TECHNICAL KNOCK-OUT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 261, 2 October 1940, Page 7

TECHNICAL KNOCK-OUT.

ENEMY ATTACKS THWARTED. LONDON DEFENCES SECURE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. 30. An Air Ministry bulletin comments that the enemy’s attacks to-day followed, in boxing parlance, the tactics of a right-right-left, with the blows spaced out throughout the day. All were parried and none found its mark with, real effect. _ * The enemy opened with a right toward London and another stab in the same direction followed about an hour later. Both were largely feints, being probably designed to wear out the British' fighters. In neither case 'was the attempt to reach London a success. Soon after 11 a.m. the enemy aimed a left toward the West Country. Like the first two attacks, it was a tentative jab rather than a full blow. About 70 bombers and fighters crossed the coast between St. Alban’s Head and Portland,' threading fanwise over Dorset and Somerset. MORE PURPOSEFUL JAB.

It was again a right-left in the afternoon. Just as the Londoners were settling down to their midday dinner the German right fist again jabbed in their direction, this time more purposefully than before. Though the main body of 120 enemy aircraft reached no farther than the line of the North Downs, a few got through to the London area, but they were quickly driven off .. Another 200 to 300 aircraft followed, and finally,. about half-an-'hour later, a left shot out toward Portland and Bristol. During the evening attack on the south-east of England, two Messcrschmitt 109’s met unusual ends. One was shot down by one of his fellowcountrymen and the other crashed in Windsor Great Park after the pilot had failed to recover from a flat-out divo after two Ansons. He tried a steep turn at only 1800 ft but Ins engine spluttered and before he knew where he was he hit t'he ground. He was taken prisoner by a Hurricane pilot from New Zealand who was driving his car near the park while on leave. INTREPID DEFENDERS. The best fighting of the day was in the midday attack on the south-east or England. A Spitfire squadron met M Dornier 215 bombers surrounded by oO to 60 Messerschmitt 109 s behind, above: and on either of their flanks The British leader went right through the fighters. In the meantime one pilot dived on a Messerschmitt 109 and sent it down smoking in a vertical dive to hit the ground in full view of the pilot who shot it down. Another formation of Spitfires wen mainly for the fighters, and they shot down six for certain. Four Messerschmitts crashed oil the land, one was sent down in flames, and the sixth bleu up in mid-air. Several others were badly damaged. .. . One of the R.A.F. Polish squadrons chased 30 Dornier 215 planes from Beach y Head to the French coast. The Dorniers were in close herringbone formation and were escorted by numbers of Messerschmitt 109 s. ine Poles shot down one Messerschmitt near Beachy Head, two more as were approaching the French coas , and finally one of the Dormers land over' France. This squadron has now destroyed more than 100 or t

eriemv. , At "the beginning of the after drive toward the West Country patrol of Spitfires chased away a number of Junker 88’s before they. so much as crossed the coast. Whei first sighted the Junkers were flying north at a high speed. The dived on them from the rear and by the time the enemy had wheeled awa> to flv hack to France four of their number had been shot down in sea.