MESSERSCHMITTS AND SPITFIRES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 138, 7 March 1941, Page 7

MESSERSCHMITTS AND SPITFIRES

Battle Over Channel At 30,000 Feet

ATTACK ON THE BOULOGNE

DOCKS

(British Official Wireless.) < RUGBY, March 5.

Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Fighter Command carried out offensive sweeps over the French coast this afternoon, states the Air Ministry news service. In the course of opera tions fighter squadrons escorted a formation of bombers in a successful attack on the docks at Boulogne. One Messerschmitt 109 was destroyed by our fighters. Six were probably destroyed and another was damaged. In one of these sweeps Spitfires and Messerschmitts engaged at 30,000 feet over the Channel. In this action one Spitfire squadron claimed five enemy aircraft as probably destroyed and one damaged, in addition to the one destroyed. The ‘ destroyed Messerschmitt 109 was not even fired at, a British pilot said. “I saw a 109 on my tail and at once made an evasive action in order to get into position to let Jerry have it,” he said. “But Jerry was rushing down at high speed and crashed into the sea.” A sergeant pilot of the same squadron got a probable, but, like several fellow-pilots, was not able to see what actually happened to the enemy as there was considerable cloud below the battle.

In the Channel air battle one enemy aircraft was seen to dive vertically with smoke pouring from its engine. Another fell on its back toward the sea, on fire. Another is believed to have crashed on land. Accompanying this squadron was the commander of the station, who added to his bag one probable and one damaged. An Air Ministry communique states that it is now confirmed that another enemy bomber was destroyed by antiaircraft gunfire near Cardiff last night, bringing the number of enemy aircraft destroyed by this ’means during the night to three. The Cardiff area was again the main target of'the Luftwaffe last night,

being heavily attacked. London, after midday, had its 500th alarm, but-it was one of the shortest since the outbreak of war.