PILOT “BAGS” TWO

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21371, 15 March 1941, Page 10

PILOT “BAGS” TWO

BRITISH AIRMEN’S SUCCESS ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED HIT SEA IN FLAMES (Omcial wireless) (Received March 15, 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, March 14 One pilot secured two of the 13 Nazi bombers destroyed last night. He' belongs to a squadron which recently earned two decorations for night fighting. Both victims were Heinkel Ill’s and he got the first while on patrol just before midnight, and the other early in the morning when he took the air for a second time after landing to refuel and reload his guns. The same squadron was responsible for the destruction of another of the night’s victims. The pilot who shot down two in one night said he saw the first victim in the moonlight when nearly a mile away. He followed for some time, gradually closing in. With the first burst from the guns the Heinkel 111 caught fire and immediately began to fall in a dive toward the sea. It passed through the searchlight beams just before it landed in the water, where it burnt itself out. On the way back to the base he caught sight of another plane but it was too far away for him to make contact. This pilot, with the same crew, was in the air again a little more than an hour later. He had another chase and again damaged a machine with his first burst, a piece of the aircraft falling away. Hater he saw this machine hit the sea in flames. One pilot who destroyed an unidentified aircraft so far as type is concerned was not sure of his success until he landed at the aerodrome and heard that another pilot of the same squadron had seen the enemy crash.