SIXTEENTH GERMAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20620, 22 November 1941, Page 7

SIXTEENTH GERMAN

FIGHTER SQUADRON SUCCESS OF AUCKLANDER LONDON, Oct. 21. The sixteenth German was shot down for the New Zealand Fighter Squadron by Pilot-Officer W. Crawford Compton, Mission Bay, during a daylight sweep over France. It was his second victory. “The squadron was acting as close escort to bombers whose target was a ship loft on a canal near St. Omer,” said Compton. “As usual, the Australians were with us, and when we were over France I saw four Messerschmitt 10’9s dive on them. The Germans continued their dive after the attack and came into position under us. I peeled off and let the two 109’s go by. waiting to attack the third. If I had gone for the first the other three might have jumped on me. This third ME turned nicely for me—l don’t think he can have seen me—and I gave him a short burst. He straightened out and a puff of smoke came from the tail. I think the pilot must have been killed because he took no evasive action. “I closed the range to 50yds. and as I fired another burst with the cannons the ME burst into flames and broke up. I could see the cannon shells striking.

“When I finished the attack I found myself on my own. The New Zealand Squadron was not in sight. I managed to find the Australians, however, and I flew under them and came back to England with them.”