TWO NIGHT RAIDERS FALL TO N.Z. PILOT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 7

TWO NIGHT RAIDERS FALL TO N.Z. PILOT

IN MOONLIGHT

Swarms Of German Planes Over Scotland

Unilf'l I'rcss Association, —Copyright. Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, May 7. A New Zea lander shot down two of last night's raiders. He saw the first after he had been in the air only 15 minutes and sent it crashing with two bursts of gunfire. Later he attacked a second raider, which swerved out of control, forcing him to turn sharply to avoid a collision. Swarms of German moonlight raiders were over central Scotland last night, in one of the heaviest attacks experienced there. The Luftwaffe scattered its forces over a wide area. Considerable damage was caused at Clydeside, which was again attacked, as was Merseyside. There were numbers of casualties at both places. Large bombs were dropped at several places in the north-east of England, East Anglia, the southwest of England and elsewhere, without doing much damage. A German communique claims that strong Luftwaffe formations last night attacked Clydeside, Liverpool, Newcastle, Plymouth and other harbours, in addition to aerodromes in the south-east of England. The Berlin radio says the Luftwaffe in daylight yesterday attacked Plymouth, the clocks at Newcastle and four aerodromes, including Lympne. Air Fighta Over Sea It was announced this morning that during enemy air activity over i3ritain last night nine enemy air- | craft were destroyed, eight by night i fighters, and one by anti-aircraft ] fire, bringing the total of enemy air-1 craft definitely accounted for in May during night attacks on Britain to 50, and the total since January 1 is | now 249, says a British Official Wireless message. Of the 50 destroyed this month 39 were brought down by night fighters, 10 by anfri-aircraft fire, and one by a balloon barrage. The Air Ministry and Ministry of ] Home Security says that since dawn to-day there has been continuous enemy activity by fighter aircraft near the South-east Coast and the Thames Estuary. Spitfires of the Fighter Command have engaged them, and there have been a number of dogfights. Four Messerschmitts 109 have been destroyed, and one i Spitfire is missing. Soon after six o'clock four Spitfires engaged eight Messerschmitts 109 and destroyed two of them. A quarter of an hour later three Spitfires of the same squadron found three Messerschmitts 109 flying at sea level, and three at 1600 ft. In the ensuing fight one Messerschmitt 109 was destroyed. Later six Spitfires of another squadron encountered other Messerschmitts 109, one of which they destroyed^ Squadron-Leader's Success Three of the enemy raiders destroyed on Monday night were shot down by one fighter squadron. Two aeroplanes were destroyed within the space of two hours by a squadron-leader who is a holder of the D.F.C. This pilot now has 12 victories to his credit, 10 of which he achieved during the daytime. The squadron-leader who shot down a Messerschmitt 111 into the sea off Northern Ireland was attacked by two other enemy bombers after his victory. He evaded their fire, however, and landed safely. One of the night's victories was won by a New Zealand flight-lieuten-ant; the raider he attacked was a Heinkel which he sent diving to destruction with its tail blazing. Another night fighter pilot operating over an enemy aerodrome in Northern France saw eight German bombers preparing to land, so he singled out one and raked it with fire. It was suddenlv lit up by an orange explosion, and by the light of the glare he recognised it as a Heinkel 111. it broke up and fell. On the way home the pilot bombed another aerodrome.

BATTLES OFF COAST

Six Nazi Fighters Shot Down

In Daylight

ACTIVITY OVER CHANNEL, British Official Wireless. Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, May 7. Since dawn to-day there has been considerable enemy activity off the south-east coast and raiders have been frequently engaged by R.A.F. ngnters, says an Air Ministry communique. As a result of these combats ,six enemy fighters have been snot down and two R.A.F. fighters are missing. During daylight yesterday four enemy fighters in all were destroyed, two of them by fighters and two by anti-aircraft guns. Five R.A.F. "ghters are missing from yesterday's operations* but three of the Pilots are safe. It is confirmed that an anti-air-craft battery shot down two more enemy bombers during the night of May 4-5, making a total of nine enemy aircraft destroyed during that night. A communique issued in Northern Ireland, states that some slight enemy activity was experienced over Northern "Ireland in the small hours of this morning. A few minor incidents are reported, but so far no news of serious casualties has been received.