MORE R.A.F. BLOWS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 5 August 1941, Page 5

MORE R.A.F. BLOWS

GERMAN PLANTS HANOVER; FRANKFURT FEW NAZI RAIDERS (Elec, 'l'cl Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 5 11 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 4. “Despite unfavourable weather, last night aircraft of the Bomber Command attacked industries and communications in Hanover and Frank-furt-on-Main and also bombed the docks at Calais,” states an Air Ministry communique. Australian fighter pilots yesterday shot down the day’s bag of four Messerschmitts. One of the JUBB’s destroyed off the east coast on Saturday was shot down by a Spitfire pilot who was on a practice flight. In his own words, it was his first crack at a Hun, and, although his aircraft was hit, he brought it safetly back and made a perfect landing with the engine dead. “It was a grand bit of work,” said a member of the squadron, “for he pressed home the attack when lie could hardly see for glycol on the windscreen. The squadron feels it has got of! on the right foot, and the boys are keen to have a real shot. Ii won’t be long now.” The pilot who went out with another member of the squadron said: “We saw a German bomber climb into a patch of cloud. We came over the cloud and I went through it and made an attack at close range. Windscreen Obscured “The German pilot ‘fishtailed’ to give the rear gunner a chance, and the top and lower guns fired at me, but without results, In my next attack only one gunner replied. By this time the German bomber was turning steeply away with smoke pouring from it. I made another attack, the result of which I did not see because glycol started to pour over the windscreen. My machinevvas also hit in the wings, but I managed to return to the base and land, although the engine had cut out.”

The Junkers made a good landing on the water but sank at once. Three of the four men were seen swimming in the sea with a dinghy that did not inflate.

There was slight enemy activity last night over the east coast of England and Scotland, states a communique issued by the Air Ministry. Bombs were dropped at a few scattered points, including one in the northeast of England, where some houses were demolished and some casualties were caused, including a small number killed.

A communique issued by the Air Ministry and Ministry o.[ Home Security stated that a small number ol enemy aircraft were flown near the coast to-day, and one flew inland. Up to 8 p.m. there was no report of any bombs having been dropped.