FINE RECORD

Evening Star, Issue 23492, 5 February 1940, Page 7

FINE RECORD

FIGHTER SQUADRON’S ACHIEVEMENTS ONLY VISIBLE CRASHES COUNTED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 4. February 5, at noon.) On Saturday a single squadron of Hawker Hurricanes was responsible for shooting down two Heinkels. crippling a third, and chasing away a fourth. On the previous Tuesday two of the pilots attacked a couple of Heinkels off the Northumberland coast, and saw one enemy dive into the sea and break up. This squadron was thus responsible for the destruction of three out of the four raiders known to have been destroyed in two days’ engagements, as it will be remembered that the R.A.F. counts as destroyed only those seen to crash, and not those (no matter how badly damaged) that managed to evade the coup de grace, but, nevertheless, do not got back to their bases. Between 1916 and 1918 the predecessors of this squadron brought down 149 German aircraft in France. The personnel includes a flight-lieutenant from South Africa and a flying officer from New Zealand. EXTRAVAGANT CLAIMS GERMAN VERSION REJECTED LONDON, February 4. (Received February 5, at noon.) It is authoritatively stated that the German bombers were estimated not to exceed 12, which could not possibly have sunk 14 ships, as the Germans claim.