WAR IN THE AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1940, Page 5

WAR IN THE AIR

A BATTLE

OVER THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

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

LONDON, July 15.

Pilots of the Royal Air Force t ighter Command and anti-aircraft gunners yesterday after,noon combined to shoot down seven enemy aircraft in air fights off tho south-east coast of England. Other enemy aircraft Avere hit and may also have been destroyed. About 40 Junkers dive-bombers Avere engaged, as well as a number of escorting Messerscbmitt 109 fighters. Anti-aircraft guns were firing almost continuously for more than half an hour. In the air the fight continued for a full hour, many Junkers being chased back across the English Channel.

Within a fcAV minutes one of the anti-aircraft gun crews scored a direct hit on a Junkers flying level far above them. They did not see it crash, but a neighbouring gun crew let them know.

One patrol of Spitfires shot down four of the,seven enemy aircraft known to have been destroyed. These four wer e also Junkers dive-bombers. Three Messerscbmitt 109 fighters were destroyed by Hurricanes. The first fighter, Avas shot down by a squadron leader. After a long burst the enemy aircraft flicked over onto its back. The squadron leader continued to fire, and, still upside down, the Messerscbmitt dived steeply and crashed.

Meantime, another enemy fighter was doing its best to get on the tail of the squadron leader’s Hurricane, but it in turn Avas being attacked by another British pilot. After one long hurst from the British pilot’s machine-guns, there Avas an explosion in the Messeiv Schmitt, and this, too, dived steeply to its end.

A pilot from another formation of Spitfires went after a third Mcsserschmitt 109 and got in tAVo bursts. He saAv it go d.OAvn enveloped in smoke. It may have been destroyed, but the Spitfire pilot- was too busy attacking another enemy fighter to Avatch it further. This aircraft Avas, therefore, not claimed officially. ;

An official, statement reports that'a feAA’ enemy aeroplanes crossed the coast during the night. Bombs Avere dropped at isolated points in the south-east and south-west of England, hut no serious damage Avas done. .. . The battle over the Straits of Dover on Saturday afternoon, in Avhich Royal Air Force fighters shot doAvn six enemy aeroplanes, was described as a terrific sight by people avlio saw it. Ihe German bombers circled Avhile Avaiting their turn to dive and drop their bombs, but the British fighters spoiled their aim. All the bombs fell Avide of the mark. Several German machines Avere seen to crash into the sea. One German pilot Avas seen to bail out at 1000 feet and land in the sea, by means of his parachute.

The British machines broke up the formation and when last seen the Germans were fleeing for home with British Spitfires chasing after them. ,