EAGER FOR BATTLE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 7

EAGER FOR BATTLE

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

British Official Wireless.

ENTHUSIASM OF POLES "TREMENDOUS FIGHTERS"

Rec. 5.5 p.m. Rugby, Sept. 8. Pilots' own accounts of Saturday's 'ftaylight air attack on London reveal the dashing part played by a Polish squadron. Perfect timing between three fighter squadrons was said to be responsible for smashing a big enemy formation near the east of London. Of these three squadrons the Polish squadron of Hurricanes had the largest bag. When the Poles arrived about 40 Dornier bombers were flying at 20,000 feet. Some distance behind and above was a i small formation of Messerschmitts 110. Farther behind still and at an even greater height, probably 30,000 feet, were Messerschmitts 109. The latter were Kattacked by the Spitfires. The Messerschmitts 110 did not seem to know what to do. First Class Target. One Hurricane squadron attacked the rear of the Dornier formation, which then turned east and provided the Polish squadron with a first class target. The Poles, who had been flying in sections v of three, one behind the other, strung round so that the whole squadron was almost broadside on to the bombers. They dived down 4000 feet out of the sun to attack each member of each section, choosing an individual target. A British pilot, praising the courage of the Poles, said: "They are tremendous fighters. Their enthusiasm is infectious. They go tearing into enemy bombers and fighters. They go so close you think they are going to collide." One Pole, after shooting down. two Dorniers, was himself attacked and baled out over Essex. He landed safely near Roughton and'rejomed his squadron a few hours later. Three of the Poles got two bombers each and a fourth got one bomber and one fighter. In action with the Polish squadron was a Czechoslovak pilot who flew his plane to Poland after the invasion of his country by the Nazis. He fought in Poland last autumn and came to England. His Czechoslovak fellow countrymen were in the air over London with their owil squadron at the same time, bringing down five Nazi raiders.