DAREDEVIL TACTICS
IN ATTACKS ON ENEMY SHIPPING DEEDS OF BRITISH PILOTS. PAST WEEKS RELATIVE LOSSES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, July 20. “Six Hurricane pilots today attacked an enemy tanker off the French coast and set it on fire,” says the Air Ministry newsservice. “Two columns of black smoke, each 50 feet high, were coming from the centre of the tanker as the British aircraft flew away. “While this attack was in progress, six other Hurricanes poured thousands of machine-gun bullets into an antiaircraft ship escorting the tanker. This attack was one of several that have been made on enemy shipping by British fighters during the last few days. “Half a dozen Hurricanes attacked an anti-aircraft ship on Saturday, streaking down one after another from 2,500 feet to fifty feet. After the fourth of the six fighters had dived, all the guns on the anti-aircraft ship stoped firing. “Another attack on Saturday was made by a lone fighter pilot on a 1,500ton motor vessel half a mile from the French coast. Diving down nearly to sea level, he blazed away with his guns and cannons and stopped firing, only when he was nearly hitting the mast. As he broke away, he saw flashes and small explosions, followed by smoke, coming from the bridge. The vessel turned and made for the shore. “Formations of fighters swept over ..Northern France but the few Messerschmitts seen kept their distance, except one which was shot down.” An Air Ministry communique, con- J firming details of the attack on a tanker in. the Channel given, above, states that later in the day Blenheims of the Bomber Command, with fighter escort, bombed and hit the same target. From these operation's two bombers are missing. Air losses during the week ending at dawn on July 20 total 47 Axis aeroplanes and 44 British. Over Britain and its coast, the Germans lost ten machines to the R.A.F’s. ml. Over Germany and .German-occupied Kerritory, the enemy lost 22 planes and the R.A.F. 40. In the Middle East the Axis lost 15 planes and the R.A.F. 4.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1941, Page 6
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351DAREDEVIL TACTICS Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1941, Page 6
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