THRILLING ENCOUNTERS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21189, 12 August 1940, Page 8

THRILLING ENCOUNTERS

BATTLES IN THE AIR SCORES BROUGHT DOWN SUPERIORITY OF BRITISH (Official Wireless) (Received August 12, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, April 11 For the second time in four days sixty German bombers and fighters were shot down round the British coasts, and since 7.30 this rooming Hurricanes, Spitfires and anti-air-craft guns have been repelling attacks by some 400 enemy aircraft on docks and shipping along the south and east coasts. There were three distinct points of attack—Portland, Dover, and on a convoy on the East Anglian coast. The first Dover battle lasted from 7.30 until 11. But about 10 a.m. much more ambitious attacks developed on Portland. Between 50 and 60 enemy aircraft were in the air over Dover in the first “do.” In battle with them was a Spitfire squadron, which went into action four times during the day. . Most Successful Attack Their most successful attack ended with the destruction of ten Messerschmitt 110 Jaguar bombers. While the Spitfires were worrying Messerschmitt 109’s 20,000 feet above Dover anti-aircraft guns were worrying them from below. During the Dover action the gunners brought down three Messerschmitts and later destroyed another two at Portland, making the day’s total five in all. Shortly after 10 a.m. the enemy flung in over 200 bombers and fighters. About 150 reached the coast. In this action, which lasted until lunch-time, the enemy suffered the heaviest losses. Nearly 40 crashed on the sea or land when the Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons roared in and out, breaking up formations, zooming and picking them off in a long series of dog-fights. One auxiliary squadron shot down 10 Messerschmitts and the regular squadron, which destroyed 21 German raiders last Thursday, added another five, to the bag to-day. Hardly had the Portland action finished when another battle developed further to the east from Dover, around the north foreland. * For Fourth Time The Spitfires which began the day’s fighting were now going into battle for the fourth time. They met 30 Messerschmitt 109’s dodging in the out of clouds 4000 feet up, off the north foreland. Four Spitfires chased 30 Messerschmitts through the clouds, bringing down two. Only an hour before the same Spitfire squadron had been ordered to patrol over a convoy off the East Anglian coast. There they found 40 Messerschmitt 110 Jaguar bombers about to attack the ships. Luckily the saw the enemy before they themselves were sighted, and the Jaguars, taken by surprise, tried too late to form a protective circle. Ten were sent down into the sea. In the afternoon the air war died away, to break out again mildly in the early evening, when a Junker 18 and a Dornier 17 were destroyed off the east coast.