Escaped Bombing Raid To Down Messerschmitt

Northern Advocate, 30 April 1940, Page 5

Escaped Bombing Raid To Down Messerschmitt

(Received 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 29

The Air Ministry announces that a Sunderland fiyingboat of the Coastal Command of the Royal Air Force yesterday encountered and shot down a Messerschmitt 110 fighter. If the bombing by German Junkers over a Norwegian fiord had been more accurate, it is probable that the terse announcement that a Sunderland fiyingboat had shot down a Messerschmitt 110 would have read very different. Dodged Bombs.

Tlie fiyingboat had just landed, and the captain was rowing in a whaler to a nearby warship when a heavy attack was made by Junker aeroplanes. Quickly the fiyingboat's captain returned to his craft, and began to taxi over the water and dodge bombs. After a while the fiyingboat’s engines became hot, and in order to cool them the pilot took off, only to be immediately attacked by a Messerschmitt 110. The German machine, however, was unable to withstand the concentrated fire from the heavilyarmed Sunderland, and crashed into the sea. The Sunderland fiyingboats are some of the largest service aeroplanes in use. Weigh Over 20 Tons. Weighing over 20 tons and with a wing span of just over 112 feet and a crew of 10, they have been carrying out reconnaissance flights lasting 14 to 16 hours. These boats are very manoeuvreable, in spite of their great size, and are a development of the well-known Empire Class fiyingboat of commercial fame. Attached to the Coastal Command, these aircraft have taken part in the command’s activities, which include convoying merchant ships against air attack.

It commands the proud boast that an air-escorted convoy has never yet lost a ship. Sunderlands, which were used to land experts who preceded the British troops’ landing in Norway after the German invasion, also co-operated with other branches of the Air Force and Navy in driving-off practically all German vessels between Bergen and Trondheim.