FEW PLANES FLY INLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 117, 20 May 1941, Page 8

FEW PLANES FLY INLAND

BATTLES OVER THE CHANNEL

FIVE NAZIS DOWN

(Rec. 1 p.m.) RUGBY, May 19, An official communique issued today stated: "There has been some enemy air activity, mainly off the east and south-east coasts today, but few hostile aircraft have flown inland. In the early morning bombs were dropped at two places on the south-west coast. Some damage was done and a small number of casualties were caused, "some of which were fatal. "Five enemy fighters were destroyed by fighters of the Royal Air Force over the Channel today. Four of our fighters are missing from patrol, but three of the pilots are safe." In the past 24 hours eight enemy planes have been destroyed over and around Britain. Four Spitfires on patrol over a convoy in the English Channel this afternoon met ten MElo9's. In a fight which followed, five Messerschmitts were shot down in as many minutes, without loss to ourselves. Two Spitfire pilots got two each, and a third the other. Only one German had time to bale out. The fight gave the pilots their revenge, for earlier in the day a formation of MElo9's pounced on two machines of the same squadron arid shot them down. Both pilots baled out and. were saved. This squadron now claims 87 victories.—B.O.W.