WESTERN GERMANY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1941, Page 5

WESTERN GERMANY

BATTERED BV BIG FORCE OF BOMBERS HEAVY DAMAGE DONE. OTHER TARGETS INCLUDE NAVAL PORTS. LONDON, September 16. More than 200 bombers took part in raids on Western Germany last night. Shipyards, factories and railways at Hamburg were bombed steadily, hour after hour. Many huge fires were started and widespread damage was caused. Bremen, Cuxhaven, and Wilhelmshaven were also bombed. The docks at Le Havre were heavily battered. Fighters caused further damage to enemy aerodromes in occupied Franco. Nine bombers are missing. This morning one of our fighters shot down a Messerschmitt off the French coast. FIGHTERS AT WORK DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY PLANES. LONDON, September 16. Two Spitfires patrolling off the Dutch coast on Monday afternoon met four twin-engined Messerschmitt 110 s. A New Zealand wing commander who was flying one of the Spitfires attacked the nearest Messerschmitt and then broke off to rescue the second Spitfire, which had a Messerschmitt on its tail. The New Zealander’s fire was so deadly that the attacking Messerschmitt dived straight down into the sea. A Rhodesian pilot was flying the second Spitfire and, with the Messerschmitt which was on his tail disposed of he attacked and drove off the remaining two Messerschmitts. He flew at one head-on and saw a large flash from its cockpit as he fired, but immediately afterward lost it in the haze. Both of bur pilots returned safely. Later at dusk two Hurricanes destroyed a Junkers 88 off the Norfolk coast.