AIRMAN’S DARING

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21208, 3 September 1940, Page 5

AIRMAN’S DARING

RAIDER FORCED DOWN PILOT WITHOUT AMMUNITION CAPTURE BY HOME GUARD (Omclal Wireless) (Received Sept. 3, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 2 The story of an unusual piece of daring, when a Hurricane pilot forced down a Messerschmitt 109 during Saturday’s battle over Kent after he had run out of ammunition, is told to-day. The pilot, after using up his ammunition in shooting down two enemy fighters, saw a third Messerschmitt dive past him. “I followed him down to ground level and chased him southwards,” said the pilot. “He did not rive above 100 feet until well south of Maidstone, and then he throttled back. 1 overtook him and flew alongside him, pointing downwards to the ground. He turned away, so I carried out a dummy quarter attack, breaking away very close to him. “After this he landed his Messerschmitt in a field at about 140 miles an hour. I saw the pilot get out, apparently unhurt, and as I circled around him he put his hands above his head, so I waved to him and he waved back. “Then I circled low over him and threw him a packet of twenty cigarettes. I saw him pick them up and again he waved. Then I saw what I believed to be members of the Home Guard go into the field and take him prisoner. After that I returned to my base.”