NAZI RESISTANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1941, Page 5

NAZI RESISTANCE

BRUSHED ASIDE BY BRITISH FIGHTERS ; .* A DETAILS OF BATTLES' ON SUNDAY. AIR MINISTER’S MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 22. The Air Ministry news service, giving details of today’s offensive sweep, stated that all the combats took place over German-occupied territory or far out in the English Channel. Scores of German fighters were put into the air as the British fighters approached the French coast in an attempt to stop their progress, but without avail. The operation was carried out to schedule, and Messerschmitts were brushed aside as the squadrons swept inland and then out again, back to England. The announcement of this 30 to two victory of the R.A.F. sweep after the previous day’s 28 to five has been greeted by the following message from the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, to the air officer commanding in chief, the Fighter Command:

“Congratulations on the striking success of your squadrons in the recent fighting over France. It shows not only that they retain their superiority over the German air force but that they can overcome all the disadvantages of fighting over the enemy’s fortified territory and air bases and still inflict on him severe defeats. May good fortune attend you and your squadrons in making the most of this fresh advantage which your skill and hard fighting has won.” Though a great number of Spitfire and Hurricane pilots who took part in yesterday’s sweeps by the Fighter Command fought their battles either over Germany-occupied territory in Northen France, or far out over the English Channel, only two failed to return. One pilot was picked up out of the sea by the newly-developed air sea rescue service within a few minutes. Many squadrons took part, small forces of bombers accompanying them to add punch to the offensive, states the Air Ministry news service. All the bombers, with the exception of a single Blenheim, were brought back by the fighter escorts, and the bombers were so well protected that they were all able to reach their targets.

Norwegians, Poles. Czechs and Belgians joined British and Dominion

pilots in shooting down the 28 Messerschmitt 109 s which tried to interfere with the sweep. MANY GALLANT DEEDS. A South African wing commander claimed two of the German fighters, and a Canadian flying officer shot down one over an aerodrome in France in full view of a number of German mechanics and pilots. He used up all his ammunition, and had to take evasive action to escape, and, twisting and turning only a few feet above the Channel, he got back, to his home station, dodging several other Messerschmitts on the way. Another British pilot whose machine was damaged over the French coast managed to land his aircraft at an aerodrome in Kent without mishap. German fighters flew in formations of 20 and 30 together, but were engaged by squadron after squadron of British fighters. Only when the Germans thought they had found a lone straggler from the British formations did they try to pick it off by means of a long attacking dive. A squadron leader D. 5.0., with the highest score among the Fighter Command pilots in Britain, shot down the two Messerschmitt 109 s which brought the total number of enemy aircraft destroyed by British fighters to 28. He also damaged another, baled out in the sea himself, and was rescued within 45 minutes. The squadron leader was on patrol off the east coast when he was attacked by three Messerschmitt 109 s. In a dogfight which followed, the squadron leader said, his second victim fell straight down into the sea in the middle of all the bits and pieces of the first. The pilot flew his badly damaged Hurricane back some 30 miles with no throttle. When he was within three miles of the English coast the engine seized, and he baled out. As soon as he entered the water he released a new type of rubber dinghy incorporated in the latest parachutes, and floated around for three-quarters of an hour. He was picked up by a barge and transferred to a sea rescue launch.

LITTLE ENEMY ACTIVITY FEW BOMES DROPPED IN BRITAIN. LONDON, June 23. Only a few enemy aircraft were over this country last night. An alert was sounded in London for the first time for nine nights, but no bombs were dropped. Bombs were dropped on the southeast of England but caused neither damage nor casualties. There were some casualties and damage when bombs fell in a residential area in a north-east coastal town.