ENCOUNTER OVER SEA

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 99, 21 January 1943, Page 5

ENCOUNTER OVER SEA

N.Z, Pilot Shoots Down Messerschmitt (Received January 20, 7. 5p.m.) LONDON, January 19. Sergeant K. Taylor-Cannon, nicknamed “Hyphen,” of Alexandra, shot down a Messerschmitt 109 F for the -Second New Zealand Fighter Squadron, bringing its total bag to nine and one shared, or nine and a half. , Taylor-Cannon was patrolling over tlie sea when he sighted the Messerschmitt. He fired from 300 yards, causing a putt of white smoke from the starboard wing. The smoke appeared to go out, so ‘Hyphen” gave it another burst, and tlie Messerschmitt dived into the sea. Tins is the second Messerschmitt 1091’ whicn Taylor-Cannon has shot down. The squadron’s score board now shows Flying Officer G. G. Thomas, Auckland, with 24 enemy machines, Flight Sergeant Murphy, Wellington, and Sergeant Tay-lor-Cannon 2 each, Sergeant A. H. Sarnes Auckland, 14, Flight Lieutenant II N. Sweetman, Auckland, Flying Officer A. E. Umbers, Dunedin, and Fhgnt Sergeant C. N. Gall, Rangiriri, i each. The “half” indicates that the pilots shared in shooting down a German. The squadron’s old score of 94 is accounted for bv the fact that Sweetman shared a Dornier 217 with an ack-ack battery which winged the Dornier before Sweetman shot it down. This Second New Zealand Fighter Squadron is now flying one of the latest type fighters.