FOUR IN FIVE MINUTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1944, Page 5

FOUR IN FIVE MINUTES

SPITFIRE SQUADRON'S BAG

(Special P.A. Correspondent.) Rec. 9 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 19. The Air Ministry news service states that when a Spitfire squadron met and shot down four Messerschmitt 109's in five minutes over the Adriatic and Albania recently, Squadron Leader Richard Webb, of Gisborne, and Flight Lieutenant Edward Schrader, of Wellington, got one each and shared the

destruction of others, while Pilot Officer Norman Harrison, of Rakaia, was also in the action. Flight Lieutenant Schrader said: "We were operating over the Albanian coast with another squadron when I saw two Messerschmitts below me. I and another pilot chased them and dived on them. I closed to 250 yards and opened fire. The German immediately exploded, and fragments went down burning. Then we chased the other. I went in close and fired several bursts, while two other pilots attacked from the other side. The German attempted to bale out. but his parachute wrapped itself around the tail of the plane and was torn to ribbons. Then the Messerschmitt exploded." Squadron Leader Webb, who was the squadron's commanding officer, said: "We saw two Messerschmitts just level with us. They began to attack two Spitfires below. There were two of us, so we took one Messerschmitt each. I started firing at 200 yards and then closed in to very close range. I could see numerous hits, all above the German's cockpit. He tried to climb, but rolled over and dived into the drink and exploded on impact."