OVER 300 DOWNED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20630, 11 August 1941, Page 5

OVER 300 DOWNED

NAZI FIGHTERS SEVEN WEEK’S TOLL SWEEPS OVER FRANCE (Elec. Tel Copyright—United Trees Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 10 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 10. The Air Ministry states that since the Royal Air Force began to take the offensive in a big way over northern France in the middle of June, Fighter Command pilots have destroyed more than 300 Luftwaffe Messerschmitt 109’s. The pilots who shared these successes were English, Australian, American, Belgian. Canadian, Czech, French, New Zealand, Norwegian, Polish and South African A Norwegian pilot said that an intelligence officer would . not let him have his first Messerschmitt 109 for he did not see it crash. So next time when ho shot clown a Messerschmitt he “went down too and saw him crash very well.’’ An Australian pilot said that after two bursts a Messerschmitt “went down vertically, smoking like a bad cigar.” A South African “was struck by the Messerschmitt 109’s extreme manoeuvreability, but it was not quite good enough for a Spitfire.” Ten in the Morning' Fighter Command pilots, escorting a bomber offensive over northern France on Saturday morning, destroyed 10 enemy fighters and probably destroyed several more which were left going down in smoke or on fire, but were not seen to crash, states the Air Ministry news service, describing the day’s daylight operations. An eleventh Messerschmitt 109 was destroyed later by a Free French pilot who was not engaged in the offensive but who was out on a reconnaissance flight over the Channel. In further operations in the afternoon. two more enemy fighters were destroyed by Royal Air Force fighters. An Australian squadron of Spitfires got the biggest score, shooting down five Messerschmitt 109’s. The squadron has been operating for only a few weeks, and this is the fourth occasion on which pilots have been able to claim enemy casualties. . They have taken part in several recent fighter and bomber sweeps. Another squadron which on Saturday shot down lour Messerschmitt. 109’s is a south Yorkshire squadron of Spitfires which had one of the biggest bags in the offensive operations last month, when they claimed 15 German fighters definitely destroyed. This squadron has been constantly in action since the Fighter Command began large-scale offensive operations over northern France in June. American’s Bag The Eagle squadron was also among the Fighter Command scorers during the day, an American, formerly an air line pilot, shooting down a Messerschmitt 109. Other fighter pilots report fighting many formations of Messerschmitt 109’s which hung about the edge of the squadrons and engaged in nibbling tactics. They fiew off when opposed. As the squadrons which had been engaged in the sweep were returning to the bases, a Free French pilot, who claimed a Messerschmitt 109, took off on a reconnaissance flight. Over the Channel two Messerschmitt 109’s appeared out of the haze below him. He dived and opened fire. One of the Messerschmitts burst into flames and crashed into the sea. This pilot is one of the best known of the Free French men flying with the Fighter Command. This is his ninth enemy aircraft definitely destroyed. Only a few weeks ago, while on reconnaissance, he shoi clown two Messerschmitt 109’s and damaged a third. Eighteen for Day Royal Air Force fighters made several offensive sweeps over the Channel and northern France late in the afternoon. Seven enemy fighters were destroyed, making the total 18 destroyed in the day’s operations. British losses during the day were 10 fighters missing. Blenheim bombers over northern France in the morning encountered much low cloud inland which prevented the identification of targets, but objectives on the coast near Gravelines were bombed. Describing the Coastal Command’s activities on Friday night, the Air Ministry news service tells how enemy supply ships, hidden in a Norwegian fiord north of Bergen, were found and bombed by Beaufort aircraft, and at least one hit was scored. A Beaufort, flying low in the rain, found the ships moored side by side. They opened fire immediately, but the pilot gained height, and let go a stick of bombs across them. Thick black smoke from one of the ships was evidence of a hit.