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Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1942, Page 4

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DEEDS OF GALLANT GUNNER IN BATTLE OF BRITAIN. DESTRUCTION OF GERMAN DIVE-BOMBERS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, February 8. A 23 years old gunner, Leonard Bearder, manning a Lewis gun at a South Coast searchlight site, shot down two Junkers 87 (Stuka) divebombers in two minutes. Bearder, who is a lance-sergeant, was recently awarded the British Empire Medal for courage and straight shooting during the Battle of Britain. Bombs fell within a hundred yards of his machine-gun post and bullets spattered across the site, but Bearder kept on firing until the raiders were driven off. A strong force of Stukas had crossed the Channel for a daylight attack on coastal targets. They were being chased back by British fighters when they passed over Bearder.’s post at a height of about 600 feet/ “There were between 20 and 30 Stukas,” he said, “and when they came over us they began milling round like seagulls. I picked out one that was broadside on and started firing. I could see tracer bullets ripping into it from stem to stern. It lost height at once and swooped towards the sea. I picked out another target, but had fired only about fifteen rounds when I saw a third Stuka heading, straight for us and swung round on him. The Stuka staggered, turned and started for home—right along the line of my sights. I just had to hold the gun steady and keep the trigger back. He got every bullet.' The German gunner baled out, but was too low. His parachute did not open in time and he came straight downward and was killed. From start to finish the whole show did not last for more than a couple of minutes.” • „