SPECTACULAR AIR BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 45, 16 November 1940, Page 12

SPECTACULAR AIR BATTLE

Spitfires Rout DiveBombers SURPRISE ATTACK (Received Nov. 15, 10.50 p.tn.) LONDON, November 14. The south-east coast this afternoon saw one of the biggest and most spectacular coastal air battles during the war. Raiders variously estimated at CO to 300 Junkers approached, circled and began to dive, streaming down on one another’s tails. They released sticks of one heavy and four lighter bombs, but a tornado of anti-aircraft lire leapt up to meet them. Then a Spitfire appeared among them, with 20 others swooping down after it. The Germans broke oil' their dives as if surprised. Some bombs fell on a hillside and the only damage was io a wall.

It was a matter of minutes before the hail of British bullets sent two Junkers fleeing, smoking, to sea. Then one burst into flames and plunged into the waves in midchannel. A second followed soon after and then others, and three more crashed on land. Nine raiders swooped on a south-east coast town and showered bombs on residential areas, damaging a school, a church, and an amusement park. A Spitfire killed the pilot of a Messerschmitt. which crashed. A Hurricane sent another smoking into the sea. London Casualties.

Dozens of soldiers, members of the A.R.P. and police are still digging in the ruins of the London printing works for the people entombed four days ago. Joyce Iloare, who today would have been 21 years old. was taken from the ruins yesterday unconscious and died en route to hospital. Another girl whose twenty-first birthday occurred during the entombment is believed to be still under the debris. The rescuer who brought Miss Hoare out had been working continuously since the rescue began. He recovered another woman and a man. both of whom died. Seventy-eight London police have been killed since the “blitz” began and ■ll4 injured. Haiders with high-explosive bombs tonight bib a hospital block, killing chronic patients and burying other patients and staff. Three high-explosive bombs fell in the hospital’s grounds and others hit houses in the neighbourhood, burying residents. Another London hospital was also hit tonight. A raider crashed at Loughborough and its four occupants were killed. Thursday’s “Bag.” RUGBY. November 14. Most of today’s “bag” of Nazi aircraft went to a, single Spitfire squadron which this afternoon destroyed .14 enemy aeroplanes off the Kent coa'st. The individual “record” for today goes to one pilot of this squadron who shot down three planes. Thirteen of the enemy machines were Junkers 87’s and one a Messerschmitt 109. The largest number of Junkers 87’s falling to one squadron is still the 15 which a Hurricane squadron accounted for a week ago. One Junkers 88 was shot down off the south coast during the morning. It was confirmed that during last night two enemy bombers were destroyed over Britain. Shortly after intense gunfire bad driven off two raiders over the Thames Estuary this afternoon, a formation of nine enemy planes approached from the south. Bursting shells harassed I lie raiders till two formations of British fighters flew right into the midst of the enemy, and a fierce battle ensued for some minutes before the raiders were chased southward. Some bombs were dropped. During the morning the enemy came 'over in waves. They were intercepted by fighters at the mouth of the Thames and hurriedly turned for home. A liomber which was attacked by Spitfires crashed behind a row of houses at Poole (Dorsetshire) this morning. The crew were killed. The plane, which had a full load of bombs, set fire to a house. Their Majesties, in the course of a tour of London shelters, descended for the first time into a deep shelter and arrived shortly after the “all clear” had been given. Two thousand people were sheltering there. A German communique declares that the air force plastered important military objectives in London, Liverpool, Coventry and Birmingham. FIRST FIGHTER PILOT TO GAIN V.C. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 14. Hight Lieutenant James Nicholson has been awarded the Victoria Cross. He is the first fighter pilot to receive the decoration.