BIG NAZI LOSSES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21187, 9 August 1940, Page 6

BIG NAZI LOSSES

FIGHTING OVER CHANNEL THRILLING ENCOUNTERS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel- Copyright) (Received August 9, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 8 The German Air Force suffered the most severe losses today since the air war around the British coast began. Nineteen Junkers 87 divebombers and 34 Messerschmitt ighters—s 3in all—were destroyed by Hurricanes and Spitfires over* the English Channel. They were shot down during a series of attacks on convoys, which lasted from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. A Hurricane squadron in three fights sent 21 enemy aircraft crashing into the sea. One was shot down by a Polish pilot in an action with the Fighter Command for the first time. The day’s main air battle was fought in three parts. The first German attack on a convoy was between 9 and 9.30 a.m., when six Junkers 87 dive-bombers and three Messerschmitts were destroyed by a Hurricane squadron, which was most successful in the day’s engagements. A second attack on the same convoy by a still larger formation of dive-bombers and escorting fighters developed between 11.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Finally throwing nearly 150 divebombers and fighters into the battle the Germans made a third attack between 4 and 5 p.m. The Hurricane squadron destroyed 21 German raiders, and was in all three actions in a few hours. They became the squadron with the biggest “bag” of enemy aircraft in home defence. Sky Black With Bombers The Hurricanes’ squadron leader, describing one of the fights, said the sky over the convoy was literally black with German bombers and fighters after the first morning battle. The Polish flying officer told, with the help of his fellow pilots, how he saw his first large formation of Junkers 87’s, supported by new Heinkel 113 fighters. “I was attacked,” he said, “by three Heinkel 113’s, which seemed to be working to plan—one flying alone and the other two as a pair. If you attack a pair the single one tries to get on your tail.” He tackled the single Heinkel 113, and watched it go down smoking, though he was not able to see a final crash.

It was during the last battle of the afternoon that this 'pilot got his Messerschmitt 109. Describing his part in the battle, the Hurricane squadron-leader said: “We climbed to 16,000 feet, and, looking down, saw a large formation of Junkers 87’s approaching from the sun, with Messerschmitts 109’s, stepped up to 20,000 feet. We approached unobserved out of the sun and went in to attack the rear Junkers 87’s before the enemy fighters could interfere. Series of Bursts “I gave five seconds’ burst to one bomber and broke off to engage two Messerschmitt 109’s. There was a dogfight. The enemy fighters were rolling, diving and zooming in climbing turns. I fired a second burst at one and saw it dive into the sea. I followed up another in a zoom and caught him as he stalled.” Crashed Into Sea A flight-lieutenant in the same squadron managed to bring down two Junkers 87’s though his engine had stopped. “I was forced to retire owing to engine failure, but dived down on the Junkers 87,” he said. “After three or four seconds it went into an inverted dive and crashed into the “My engine started again and I went after another Junkers 87 and attacked him before he was able to make another dive-bombing attack on the convoy. He dived into the sea at high speed. “After this second attack my engine stopped for good and I only just got back to England.” This pilot managed to land at a nearby aerodrome. In the second battle of the day three Hurricanes oi this squadron met ten Messerschmitt 110’s and shot three of them and a Messerschmitt 109 into the sea. The last-named was used a decoy. While the Hurricanes were attacking him the 110’s were supposed to take them by surprise, but as one Hurricane pilot said, “The Messerschmitt 109 overacted his part.” Oil Tanks Blown Up An Admiralty communique states: Fleet Air Arm aircraft attacked a petrol storage depot at Dolvig, five miles south of Bergen. There were three oil tanks, with a total capacity of 7000 tons, at this depot. The largest tank was blown up, the second hit and set on fire, and the third damaged. Very large fires were soon raging and it is believed they must have caused the total destruction of the depot. All our planes returned safely.