SIX DOWNED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 153, 10 April 1941, Page 5

SIX DOWNED

NIGHT sR^ ERS OVER BRITAIN -

OTHER VICTIMS ELSEWHERE.

ACTIONS AT CLOSE RANGE. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Roc. 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 9. British fighters shot down six Gorman bombers .last night during raids over Britain, which included a fierce attack on Coventry. An official communique states: “The main attack by enemy aircraft last, night was directed against .the Midlands. In this area a raid lasting several hours was made on ono town” (later identified as Coventry). Considerable damage was done. Information of the casualties is not yet available but it is feared that there wore many. “Heavy bombs were also dropped in a number of districts, especially in the south-east and on or near the south coast. Many did no damage, but in two towns on the south coast a small number of persons were killed and some damage was done. “Apart from the six enemy bombers destroyed by night fighters, "others were .damaged and in trouble when they made for home.

“In addition, other R.A.F. aircraft visited enemy aerodromes early this morning and dropped bombs while enemy aircraft were returning from the raids. They shot up and dowsed the landing lights, and damaged ground material and transport.

“One Hurricane pilot shot up two Heinkel Ill’s while on a single patrol which lasted little more than an hour. His first success, causing a large explosion on tho enemy aircraft as his bullets struck the fuselage,- was seen by his flight-commander, who was about to attack another Hill. The flight-commander also destroyed his victim. The flight-commander, flying a Defiant, and the, pilot of another Defiant, got the fourth victim. A squad-ron-loader in a Spitfire, who also scored a success, got so close to his target that he was momentarily blinded by the effect of his bullets hitting the enemy aircraft. A second attack resulted in- great burning .pieces falling away, from the enemy aircraft as it dived through the cloud. “Two enemy bombers were shot down this piorning into tho sea off the coast of Wales by British fighters.”