BURST IN FLAMES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21196, 20 August 1940, Page 6

BURST IN FLAMES

! FATE OF RAIDERS THRILLING ENCOUNTERS I i SQUADRON’S BIG “ BAG ” I (OfTlclal Wireless) (Received August 20, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, August 19 The four enemy aircraft so far reported to have been destroyed in Monday’s actions were flying alone when they were attacked. Three were Junkers 88’s and the fourth a Messerschmitt 110. Four different fighter s*quadrons brought them down. One sergeant pilot, flying a Hurricane, describes how, after two attacks, the Junkers 88 burst into flames over the west country and crashed. The other two Junkers 88’s were brought down in the Channel. The Messerschmitt 110 crashed into the North Sea after being attacked by patrol Spitfires. A Spitfire squadron, which has destroyed or damaged more than 130 enemy aircraft since the war uegan, won fresh laurels in Sunday’s great enemy attack. Early in the day some of the squadron pilots chased a Messerschmitt 110 over south-east England at 30,000 feet and brought it down later in the first of two mass raids. The squadron again went into action and after some fierce combats returned to the base to report that it had destroyed four Messerschmitt 109’s. Three other raiders were probably sent crashing to the sea and six more are believed to have been damaged by the same squadron. In the evening the squadron scored yet further successes, destroying four Messerschmitt 110’s and one Dormer 17. In addition it probably destroyed three Messerschmitt 110‘s and damaged another four of the same type, together with two Heinkel Ill’s, making its “bag” for the day ten enemy aircraft destroyed, six probably destroyed, and 12 damaged. New Zealander's Achievement It was this squadron which saw the main formation of enemy bombers which it was about to attack turn back under anti-aircraft fire. The only casualty which the squadron sustained during the day was slight damage by bullets to two of the aircraft. None of the pilots was hurt. It was a strenuous day for them all. The squadron-leader, who had brought down several enemy aircraft, spoke of the terrific dog-fights and described how his pilots more than once tore up into the sky from 3000 feet to 30,000 feet in search of the enemy. A New Zealand pilot who was recently awarded the D.F.C. not only helped to destroy a Messerschmitt 110 in the morning but also damaged a Domier 215 in the first mass raid, and brought down a Messerschmitt 110 and probably destroyed two other raiders in the evening. ,