FIGHTER OPERATIONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 140, 16 June 1941, Page 7

FIGHTER OPERATIONS

Patrols And Combats Over The Channel CHERBOURG 'DROME SHELLED Rec. noon. RUGBY, June 15. Details are available of R.A.F. fighter operations in which three enemy fighters were .shot down into the sea. an aerodrome in Frenchoccupied territory was heavily machine-gunned and a German patrol boat in the Channel was raker , , with cannon fire almost from sea level. As given out by the Air Ministry news service the three fighters were destroyed when a number of Mcsserschmitts 109 sought to harass a force of day bombers detailed to attack two enemy aerodromes at St. Omer.

A strong fighter force engaged an enemy formation. In addition to the three Messerschmitts 109 definitely destroyed, several others were last seen emitting streams of glycol from damaged radiators or left With smashed cockpit covers and bullci. holes in their fuselage.

Czech, Polish and Free French pilots wore among those encaged in this successful operation. One pilot had a narrow escape after being hit by a piece of shrapnel and attacked by a Messerschmitt 109. Hits were registered on his fuselage and enpinc. but. after jettisoning his cockpit ho<vi over the Channel, he nursed hi*. damaged machine back to the coa i and landed at his base suffering only from slight injuries.

Later in the morning two RpitSre pilous patrolling off the Frenrli coaat sighted a German patrol boa: One pilot "held the rinc" k surprise attack, while hi.-; companion came down to within 20 foet of th* .

water, throttied back and rak?d the patrol boal with cannon fire ai clo.-e range. Lq-.v flying attacks were n!so msdf on an aerodrome near Cherboure •shortly after dawn when a force of fighters swept down in a ■ haJ'ow dive to within 100 feet of the cround and attacked aircraft 6:?]KTz.oi pen-: and barracks blocks with cann , • shell?. "We attacked pra<- • 'ciill\ an the uipper.-sal per.s. ■>: whi.-h there were about 2<k" c a ;.i the k'\U'.- : -T>jii lender, "and we v<_•-._• s-> . •.-.- v . •'• could p'^in. , -.- '-■■■(• our "V " ' •••-' and expl.ji ing/ .