AIR SUPERIORITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 157, 4 July 1940, Page 5

AIR SUPERIORITY.

BRITISH PILOTS.

BATTLES OVER DUNKIRK.

NEW " SECRET" WEAPON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SAX FRANCISCO, June 6. Some phases of the air fight over Dunkirk were narrated by Drew Middleiton, an American correspondent, who has sent some striking reports to the United States relative to exploits of the Royal Air Force. In one of these stories, Mr. Middleton wrote: "A dozen British flyers told how 'in a lead-filled sky over Dunkirk they shot down 12 German 'planes, although outnumbered 80 to 21. The British lost but one 'plane, they said." The battle saw fourscore Nazi Heinkels and Messerschmitts ranged against the R.A.F.'s small force of Hurricanes and Boulton Defiants. The Defiant is Britain's new "secret" weapon, operating from a concealed base in England. Some of the victorious British pilots and their machine-gunners belong to a squadron which in four days ■was I credited with downing 53 German 'panes. Eight Downed. The men in this noted squadron maintain that Britain's new two-man, four-gun fighter 'plane can lick its weight in Messerschmitts anywhere, any time. One of the youthful pilots, called "Cookie," shot down eight German 'planes in one day.

Discussing the technical differences in British 'planes, "Cookie" recounted a successful air battle in which the Germans lost 38 'planes while engaging British firing from the Defiants' powerdriven turrets.

"Those Jerries don't seem to be able to tell us from Hurricanes." paid "Cookie." (Hurricanes fire forward.) ?'They come alongside us, or, as we say.

•on the beam,' and the gunner lets go. It was like knocking apples off a tree." He paused, grinned, and added, "They gave us a little more hell to-day."

The flyers related their experience* at their base, where, ten minutes after they returned from patrol duty over Dunkirk, they were sipping tea and lolling in deck chairs.

"Wβ will go up again soon," said "Cookie." "This is a light day with only two patrols. Some days we have four and five, and are in the air six hours."

Odds Demanded. One pilot remarked that vn* enemy, "never goes for us unless he's got good odds in his favour." Hβ added: "I think we are knocking down five for every one we lose, putting two out of action for every one their factories can produce."

The pilot who made that statement is a senior officer, holder of several medals and citations. The officer emphasised that single combat "business" is avoided as much as possible. "Wβ .fly in box formation," he explained, "and heaven help the man who loses it. I call the youngsters back when they stray. It might be cne of 'JerryV decoys he's chasing. They're good at that!"

He was enthusiastic about the new Defiant monoplanes with Merlin engines, capable of 300 miles per hour, which, carry four machine guns in the powercontrolled turret.

The newer models will carry still heavier armour. The British Hurricane* and Spitfires carry one man each. The Defiants carry a pilot and a gunner. "Our gunners are damned accurate," boasted a pilot. "Also, this turret give* them wider range and plenty of visi* bility."

"Half-way House." The base at which the airmen told their stories is referred to jokingly as "the half-way house between life and death."

Day and night the 'planes come and «.v. The gas is poured in, the machinesun belts refilled, motors checked and general tune-up given. Then the ship is ready to go again. While the mechanics wqfk on the ship, the pilots and jrunners rest. As the 'planes return from the death patrol, the occupants, young, easy and confident, clamber out land start swapping stories