GALLANT FIGHT

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20958, 10 November 1939, Page 5

GALLANT FIGHT

NEW ZEALAND PILOT RAIDER BROUGHT DOWN THREE AIRMEN KILLED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 9 A 21-year-old New Zealand pilot fought a brilliant single-handed action at a height of five miles (over 26,000 feet), above a Royal Air Force aerodrome in France—probably the highest altitude at which a combat has yet been fought in aerial warfare—and brought down a German Dornier, the latest and fastest reconnaissance type. The New Zealander took off alone and climbed steeply in the face of fire from the German gunner in the tail of the Dornier. He held his own fire until he was at close range, then loosed off a single burst and put out of action the enemy’s port motor. The German banked, climbed and again opened fire. The New Zea-

lander felt bullets humming by his head, and again attacked at a range of 250 yards with a long burst from his guns. He closed in to 50 yards, nearly collided, and gave the Germans the full blasts. The Dornier plunged down in a steep, straight dive, the New Zealander following at incredible speed, the terrific rush of air stripping fabric from the top of his own wing. Crash of Machine A wing of the German machine struck a house, and it crashed in ihe main street of a village. The engine, full on, tore a trench 10 feet deep in the ground, and the machine burst into flames. The bodies of its three occupants were thrown 100 yards away. Two women villagers were slightly injured. Two other British fighters attacking other Dornier machines were forced down. One British pilot struggled from his machine covered with oil, and declared he believed he had “got” his opponent.