BIG AIR BATTLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 249, 29 July 1940, Page 6

BIG AIR BATTLE

SEVEN ENEMY DOWNED. OFF THE SOUTH-EAST COAST. ONE VICTIM IN SOUTH-WEST. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 1.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 28. The big air battle of the day took place off the south-east coast early this afternoon, when waves of 'Messerschmitt 109’s, flying nearly six miles up, dived out of the sun. Spitfires raced up to intercept them. Two, shot down by pilots of one squadron, were seen to crash into the sea. A third exploded in mid-air. The pilots of another Spitfire Squadron first attacked the Messerschmitts when they were flying in line abreast at the height of 30,000 feet. One enemy fighter, after being attacked, went down vertically, enveloped in smoke. A fellow Spitfire pilot, flying 20,000 feet below, saw the same crippled' Messerschmitt still diving toward the sea. Later a British flight-lieutenant sent a Messerschmitt down in a spin, on five. The same pilot attacked and hit one of the latest enemy fighters Heinkel 113. The first enemy aircraft, a Junkers 88 bomber, destroyed during the day was shot down off the south-west coast of England by Spitfires soon after daWn. Shortly afterwards another Junkers 88 bomber was brought down on the. southeast coast of England.—British Official Wireless.

ADEN HARBOUR RAIDED. DAMAGE TO MERCHANTMAN. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) ADEN, JULY 28. Italian ’planes slightly damaged a merchantman with bombs in Aden harbour. A member of the crew wias killed.