TERRIFIC BARRAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21208, 3 September 1940, Page 6

TERRIFIC BARRAGE

THRILLING DOG-FIGHTS HUNDREDS OF PLANES ENGAGED (Official wireless) (Received Sept. 3, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 2 Monday’s daylight attacks by the German Air Force on south-east Britain increased in strength as the day went on. In the morning some 100 enemy aircraft were employed. Shortly after midday an attack was made by 250 bombers and fighter escorts, and in the third biggest attack of the day there were 300 enemy bombers and fighters. The German losses so far ascertained in the attacks were nine, seventeen and sixteen respectively. The main part of the last attack of the daylight hours was again aimed at aerodromes on the north and south sides of the Thames Estuary, and once again the raiding bombers were greeted with a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire from the Thames-side gunners, who prevented most of the bombers from getting anywhere near their targets. Ten Hurricane pilots, flying over Gravesend, met a force of German bombers and escorting fighters covering an area of from three to four square miles. There were twenty Dornier bombers flying at 15,000 feet, with about 100 Messerschmitt fighters massed up behind in tiers to 2bout 20.000 feet. The Hurricane pilots attacked the bombers from below. The Messerschmitts then attacked the Hurricanes, and in the dogfights which followed three Messerschmitts were destroyed and a fourth damaged. The Polish fighter squadron was also in action during this raid. The squadron-leader of a famous Spitfire squadron broke up the largest formation of Messerschmitt lighters that the British pilots have ever seen. By weaving in and out the squad-ron-leader was able to entice several Messerschmitts away from the main formation. Other British Spitfire pilots dived down and attacked anything within range.