PLANES SHOT DOWN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21228, 26 September 1940, Page 8

PLANES SHOT DOWN

BIG PROPORTION BOMBERS FORMATIONS BROKEN UP SUCCESSFUL BRITISH FLIERS (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 26, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 25 Details given by the Air Ministry news service of the air battle taking place mainly over the West of England show that the proportion of German bombers destroyed was as heavy as in the attacks earlier in the month over London. The news service states that large German bomber formations were seen over England on Wednesday for the first time since the Luftwaffe’s defeat of September 15. In that battle over London a very high proportion of bombers was destroyed, and as shown by reports up to 7.30 p.m. tonight at least 15 of the German planes brought down were heavy bombers and three others were fighter bombers. Twenty enemy planes were shot down between Bristol and the English Channel by Spitfire and Hurricane pilots and three were shot down by anti-aircraft guns. Four of our fighters were lost or are missing, but three pilots are safe. Between 100 and 200 enemy bombers and fighters flew north-west in a variety of formations just before noon.

Fighter pilots saw two wedges of Junkers 88 bombers in tight arrowheads of three, about 40 in each wedge. The Messer schmitt 109’s were higher still, flying in steps. Heavy Dornier 17 and Heinkel 111 bombers kept the same close arrowhead formations. Spitfire pilots of one squadron shot down five enemy planes and probably destroyed several more. Chased Out Into Channel Spitfire pilots of the Nizam of Hyderabad squadron, who destroyed five German raiders, spoke of defensive circles formed by the Messerschmitt fighters when they were attacked. Bombers, on the other hand, kept to tight formations, and Spitfires diving on them out of the sun from 21.000 feet had to stand heavy crossfire from the German air gunners. Pilots of a Hurricane squadron, flying high above the clouds, chased a great formation of Heinkel Ill’s from the mouth of the Severn well out into the Channel. They kept diving in line astern from 22.000 feet, picking off one Heinkel after another until they had destroyed six and seriously damaged others.

A dense mist shrouded the Straits of Dover last night. The sea was calm and there was a cloudless sky with a slight north-westerly wind.

The Government, has issued plans for the formation of a local defence corps on a voluntary basis, says a message from Singapore. British subjects and British-protected persons are eligible.