OFF THE KENTISH COAST

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 190, 9 May 1941, Page 7

OFF THE KENTISH COAST

Spitfires’ Day Bag ACTIONS BY SINGLE SQUADRON

(British Official Wireless.) (Received May 8, 7 p.m.) RUGBY. Mav 7

An Air Ministry communique describes the enemy activity off the south-east coast today as considerable. The Ministry’s news service states that fighters of the R.A F. have had a busy and successful day, having managed to bring to battle a number of German fighters on patrol off the northern coast of France and in the Straits of Dover after weeks of being unable to make them fight. > In the process, in addition to shooting down six enemy fighters, they severely damaged a number of others. All the German fighters destroyed were Messerschmitt 109’s. One Spitfire squadron got the six in three different dogfights off the Kentish eoast. The first battle began soon after dawn, two being shot down in this engagement. It was a "free-for-all” which began when four Spitfires from the squadron intercepted eight Me’s. Defensive Circle Breaks. Describing the action, one pilot said: "They were a short distance away, flying in line astern, when we first saw them. I turned in on the enemy and they at once formed a defensive circle, but this sool broke up when we went into the attack I gave one German a good burst and then broke away. When I turned back he was slowly spinning down.” Another pilot in the same section of the squadron began an attack on an .Me 109 from a considerable distance The enemy dived straight down to sea level but was overtaken. Trying to climb away, he was fired at again and black smoke poured from the engine. He rolled over on bis back and dived straight down to the sea. In addition to the six Nazi fighters an enemy bomber was shot down this evening by R.A.F fighters and another hostile aircraft was destroyed off the east coast of Scotland, bringing -the number of enemy aircraft destroyed during daylight today to eight. Previous Day’s Kakis. The Air Ministry announced tfcff during daylight yesterday four enemy fighters in all were destroyed, two of them by fighters and two by anti-air-craft guns. Five of our fighters are missing from yesterday’s operations, but three of the pilots are safe. It is confirmed that anti-aircraft guns shot down two more enemy bombers during the night of May 4-5, making a total of nine eneniy aircraft destroyed during that night. NEW ZEALANDER’S SUCCESS LONDON, May 7. The New Zealander who shot down two of the nine raiders destroyed last night saw the first bomber after he bad been in the air only 15 minutes, and sent it crashing with two bursts of gunfire. Later be attacked a second raider, which swerved out of control, forcing him to turn sharply to avoid a collision. GERMAN CLAIMS LONDON. May 7. A German communique claims that Strong Luftwaffe formations last night attacked the Clydeside. Liverpool. Newcastle. Plymouth and other harbours, in addition to aerodromes in -outli en.-. England I’h'- Berlin radio stated that ’!>• Lot:

waffe. ill dayli'.'bl yesterday all.-lckeil the Plymouth Newcastle and