WAR IN THE AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1940, Page 5

WAR IN THE AIR

OVER THE CHANNEL

ENEMY LOSES TEN PLANES. *

(United Press Association—By Electrit Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, July 14

Spitfire and Hurricane pilots of the R.A.F. again inflicted heavy damage on the German Air Force to-day. in two attempts to raid shipping n the English Channel this afternoon, ten Nazi bombers and fighters vore snot down into the sea. The total - amber of enemy aircraft destroyed to-day is twelve. Several others were /lamaged. Only one British fighter is missing.

The first big action of the day was fought out between British fighters f nd Dornier bombers, protected by fighters. The battle began more oh an four miles up, over the sea, when a am all Hurricane patrol engaged about 'wnty enemy raiders. They shot ■> » wn a Dornier bomber. While this fight was in progress, other Hurricanes from the same squadron engaged protecting Messerschmitt twin-engined fighters. They shot down two and damaged others. ! ; ,

and Hurricanes from itli-ir squadrons shot down a Messerschmitt 109 and a Dornier bomber which also attempted to, .attack shipping in the Channel.

Two hours jlater, British fighters and anti-tircraft guns wore in action olf the south-east coast against a formation of Junkers 87 divfe-bombers, protected by fighters, which made an attack oil a convoy. Hurricanes split up and attacked both bombers and fightjers. They jshot aV.vn (three Jankers 87’s and two Messerschmitt 109’s. At twelve thousand feet they attacked and chasefi them across the Channel, and shot down one into the sea.

Early this morning Huricanes attacked a Heinkel 111 bomber over the Channel.; Although it made a desperate attempt to take cover in a, cloud, it was caught, a,nd sent crashing, into the sea in, flames. , ' SUPERIORITY ON FRIDAY. ; ' V ; LONDON, July, 12. , Eleven of the German raiders that came oyer Britain fio-iday were shot down at different points, on land or at gea, from Aberdeenshire to Hampshire. To-day’s attacks of the enemy again proved the quality of British fighter pilots. Six Hurricane planes saved merchant ships from ten Heinkel planes. Four,were shot down. The others were! driven- off. A'Hittle later two Dormer planes! attempted to attack the 3ame convoy. A Hurricane fighter surprised three Dornier planes that were attacking shipping further • south, and sent one down in flames. One Hurricane plane was hit in several places 1 ut it landed; safely. ;-,b-\ . , Vi LEGLESS PILOT’S SUCCESS. ' -c RUGBY,, July 13. “Behind a- report that a Royal Air Force -fighter 1 command pilot who lost both legs in a pre-war air'crash ;hot down & Dornier 17 into the sea recently, while piloting a 'Hurricane, lies a human story of pluck and determination. After passing through an air training school with a- great reputation for athletic jncliieve).nents, the pilot was commissioned in the Royal Air Force and h,e fqrashed heavily after losing control of his machine. As a result both his legs were amputated, one completely and the or.her at the knee. The pilot was invalided o'.t of the service, but increasing skill in the use of metal legs enabled nim to play games again and when the war broke out, he so impressed the Medical Board that he pArsitaded a doctor ro soi.d him for a test to a central flying school. The pilot wa-s passed for active mu v ice with a fighter squadron, and began Tying Spitfires. Now he is leading a squadron of Canadians.