BAG OF THIRTEEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 302, 28 September 1940, Page 4

BAG OF THIRTEEN.

FALL OF ENEMY PLANES. WATCHED BY ASHBURTON MAN.* “We had a very exciting air raid 1 the other day. Fourteen planes came over and as they approached out of the sun the guns opened fire and after about six rounds had been fired one bomber was seen to burst into flames and crash in the sea,” writes Mr H. H. Christie, formerly of the Ashburton , Power Board staff, and now stationed with the Royal Navy at an English port. “Then all of a sudden three (British) fighters came racing up and darted in and out of the formation of bombers. We could hear their guns going and in a few minutes four bombers started smoking and began to tumble down out or control. The fighters then attacked the rest and altogether 13 planes were seen to -crash, and the last we saw was one bomber going like mad lor home with two figthers in pursuit. “They must have got it, because they arc over 100 miles an hour faster. One of the enemy planes regained control when only a few hundred feet off the ground and came out of its dive. The gunners opened fire immediately with a big gun and the first shot, hit the plane, which simply disappeared into small pieces- of dust. A few hours later a single bomber came over and five fighters attached! themselves to its tail. They had turns at opening fire on it and it wasn’t long before it was crashing.”