AIR BATTLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 45, 2 December 1939, Page 5

AIR BATTLE

THREE BRITISH CRAFT FIGHT. AGAINST EIGHT DORNIERS. ONE DOWNED; OTHERS RETIRE. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day,. 10.35:. a.m.) LONDON, December 11 i. In connection with the ' engagement between patrols of the coastal command of the Royal Air Force, reported on November 30, in which eight German Dornier bombers were encountered and one shot down, the others retiring, it is now learnt in London that the engagement, which resulted in the destruction of one Dornier, lasted 13 minutes and that three other aircraft of the Coastal Comm an A were in separate combats and in every intsance the enemy was driven off.

When the pilot of a northern coastal aircraft intercepted two Dorniers flying together he selected one as his immediate objective and carried out four dive attacks. The enemy’s rear’ gunner was hit and was seen to be dragged from the cockpit by another member of the crew who took his place. The enemy pilot, however made off into the clouds. The British plane then turned to deal with the other German, who followed his companion after receiving a few well-aimed bursts. An hour later another British aircraft of the same squadron also sighted a Dornier. It too disappeared in a cloud .bank when a number of rounds had been fired at it.

The final engagement was between a British flying boat and a Dornier. The British aircraft twice encountered the Dornier and on each occasion the Dornier was driven off by gunfire.—British Official Wireless.