DARING EXPLOIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1940, Page 5

DARING EXPLOIT

ENEMY FIGHTER FORCED DOWN BY HURRICANE PILOT WITHOUT AMMUNITION. BLUFF THAT SUCCEEDED ADMIRABLY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, September 2. A story of an unusual piece of daring, when a Hurricane pilot forced down a Messerschmitt 109, during Saturday’s battle over Kent, after he had run out of ammunition, is told today. The pilot, after using up his ammunition in shooting down two enemy fighters saw a third Messerschmitt dive past him. “I followed him down to the ground level and chased him southwards,” said the pilot. “He did not rise above a hundred feet until well south of Maidstone and then he throttled back. I overtook him and flew alongside him pointing downwards to the ground. He turned away so I carried out a dummy quarter attack, breaking away very close to him. After this he landed his Messerschmitt in a field, at about 140 miles an hour. I saw the pilot get out apparently unhurt, and as I circled around him he put his hands above his head, so I waved to him and he waved back. .Then I circled low over him and threw him a packet of twenty cigarettes which I had with me. I saw him pick them up and again he waved. Then I saw what I believed to be members of Ihe Home Guard go into the field and take him prisoner. After that I returned to my base.”