Tremendous Power Of British Fighter-Plane Guns

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1941, Page 5

Tremendous Power Of British FighterPlane Guns

(Rec 10.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 23. The tremendous power of British fighter-plane guns is described from pilots’ repdrts, says the Air Ministry news service. Years of experimenting, months of training and perhaps weeks of waiting have been spent in preparation for the moment when the pilot presses the button on the control column which fires the multiple guns or cannon mounted in his aircraft. Often, when it comes, even the pilot himself is astonished at the results which follow. What Happens To Foe Here are a few things that did happen when pilots pressed the button and the descriptions are from reports of combat which took place in the last two or three weeks: “I was dazzled by the effects of my fire. My spinner, the leading edges of the fuselage and the windscreen were soused with oil and great pieces of blazing Heinkel 111 filled the air. It dived vertically through the cloud/’ “The starboard wing broke off near the engine and threw back; narrowly missing my aircraft. I followed what was left of the enemy till he crashed into-the sea.” - • - “He dived down in a shower .of snarks which turned into a streak of flame.”- - - . - —• “The enemy immediately caught fire and a piece flew off and hit my plane; The enemy aircraft flew .straight into the ground.”