AT GREAT HEIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 9

AT GREAT HEIGHT

PLANE SHOT DOWN

END OF A MESSERSCHMITT

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received November 2, 1 p.m.)

RUGBY, November 1

The story of the destruction of an enemy fighter over Britain today is told by the Air Ministry news service. The Nazi machine, -which came down in flames, was a Messerschmitt 109 fighter-bomber, which was nearly five miles high over Dover. The Nazi raider was only a white speck in the clear blue sky when gunners opened fire. After firing a few rounds the battery scored a direct hit and the Messerschmitt spiralled down in flames from 24,000 feet into the sea.

At almost exactly the same time an air duel was going on between a Hurricane and a Doniier only 50 feet above the water.

A sergeant pilot had been patrolling off the east coast with two Hurricanes which were going home when he sighted below him a Dornier 17 bomber, which was skimming over the sea at 50 feet. Chasing the bomber for ten miles, the Hurricane pilot caught it up and fired several bursts. When the sergeant had to make for his base the Dornier was last seen far out over the North Sea, limping for home severely damaged.

Hudsons of the Coastal Command beat the German camouflage during a reconnaissance of enemy waters in southern Norway when they bombed a 3000-ton supply ship, heavily laden with cargo. A direct hit was scored amidships on the camouflaged vessel, and smoke appeared and part of the cargo was seen in the water. The reconnaissance was strongly resisted by the ground defences and fighter aircraft. One of the Hudsons which went to attack the ship is missing, but the rest completed the task successfully.