GALLANT PILOT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 5

GALLANT PILOT

YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER’S FEAT FAST GERMAN PLANE SHOT DOWN. COMBAT AT MAXIMUM ALTITUDE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, November 9. “The Tinies” says that a 21-year-olil New Zealand pilot foiiyhl a brilliant single-hand-ed aidion al a height of live mih's above a lioyal Air Koree aerodrome in l ( 'raiieo. Il was probably the highest combat in aerial warfare. The New Zealander brought down the laiesl and fasiest Dornier recon naissa nee plane.

The young pilot took off alone and climbed steeply in the face of lire from a German gunner from his tail. The New Zealander held his own fire till he was at a close range, and then he loosed a single burst and put out of action the enemy's port motor.

The German"banked. climbed again and opened fire. The New Zealand pilot felt the bullet humming by his head, and he again attacked at a range of 250 yards with a long burst’from his guns.

He then closed into 50 yards and gave the Germans full bursts after nearly colliding. The Dornier plunged into a steep, straight dive, with the New Zealander following at an incredible speed. The British plane stripped the fabric from its own wingtop. The wing of the German plane struck a house and it crashed in the main street of a village with the engine full on. It tore a trench 10 feet deep and burst into flames. The bodies of the occupants were thown 100 yards away. Two women residents of the village were slightly injured. Two other British fighters which attacked Dornier planes ' were forced down. One British pilot struggled from his machine covered with oil and declared he believed he had got his opponent.

The Air Ministry announces that two Royal Air Force reconnaissance planes from the Coastal Command engaged three German planes over the North Sea. The first enemy plane crashed into the water and sank. The second was seen falling, partially out of control. The combat, with the third terminated when the ammunition was exhausted. British bombers carried out photographic reconnaissance over the northwest of Germany. All but one returned safely.