LIVELY AIR FIGHT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 303, 22 December 1943, Page 5

LIVELY AIR FIGHT

Two Liberators Defeat Junkers Over Bay Of Biscay N.Z. AIRMEN IN ACTION British Official Wireless Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 21. Lively engagements against a greatly superior formation of enemy aircraft was fought over the Bay of Biscay by two Liberators, operating with Coastal Command. A British Liberator, captained by Wing-Com-mander A. E. Clouston, D.F.C., a New Zealander famous as a pre-war test pilot, was on anti-submarine patrol when it was intercepted by four twinengined aircraft, believed to be Junkers 88, and had a 50-minute combat with them in the half moonlight. "My gunners saved the day for us," said Wing-Commander Clouston, "by reporting the enemy position smartly each time they attacked. One time both our turrets were jammed and two members of the crew had to swing the top turret round by hand. The enemy attempted one formation attack after another, but, because of the fine work by our gunners, none of them succeeded.' . The combat was ended when the Liberator took evasive action in the clouds. It suffered only slight damage. The other engagement took place when a Liberator of the United States Naval Squadron fought eight Junkers 88. This Liberator, after a 15-minute combat, left one Junkers diving towards the sea, smoking heavily. The Liberator sustained neither casualties nor damage.