LIVELY DUELS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 10, 12 January 1940, Page 7

LIVELY DUELS.

GERMANS CHASED OFF.

British Aircraft Tackle Raiders

Over North Sea.

MACHINES SEEN DAMAGED

(Received I.So p.tti.)

RUGBY, January 11

While 011 North Rca patrol oil Wednesday a single aircraft of the Royal Ait' Force Coastal Coinnitthd sighted a big twin-engined, liiiely streamlined (Jel'ltiun tnolioplatle. which the British aircraft immediately pursued and overhauled and Wheli close enough opened lire with the froiil gun. The German manoeuvred, as if trying to escape, but received more punishment as the British pilot pressed hoiue the attack from below.

During a second encounter the (German bomber** rear gun was silenced and li.er retractable undercarriage, which was drawn up iu flying position, wa« seen to be dropping doWiu TII-3 impact of bullets apparently smashed the re.lease mechanism

While the front gunner of the British, aircraft *vas reloading, the German dived almost to the surface of the sea and the British pilot dropped two heavy bombs, which exploded behind the enemy's tail. The Get-tnau climbed sharply to 400 feet as if to evade a repetition of this kind of attack,

As it passed the British aircraft its side {runs Were llred continuously. It appeared that one of the enemy's guns had jammed and the hydraulic mechanism of the turrret was so deranged by the accurate lire that it was impossible to train the otily other serviceable gun. Realising the hopeless position, the German pilot avoided further combat and vanished into the clouds.

In connection With tile action by three Royal Air Force, machines against a German raider which was attacking British merchantmen in the North Sea this morning, the three pilot* Were all serg::«nte and Were on patrol off the Norfolk coast in their Spitfire fighters wlie.ii they sighted a Heinkel bomber circling 50 feet' above the ship.

Kach fighter in turn fired bursts as tlie etiemy skimmed almost at wa level. One British pilot, swerving round from tlie attack, could see the bulle.ts of another Spitfire hitting the Heinkel. When the enemy was last seen the propeller of the port e.figirte was turning slowly and smoke was coming from the port wing.