SWIFT REVENGE

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 319, 4 October 1940, Page 3

SWIFT REVENGE

DORNIER- PUT DOWN HAD ATTACKED TOWN MACHINE-GUN EIRE CHASE BY HURRICANES (News by Cable.) RUGBY, Oct. 2. A few minutes after it had mach-ine-gunned the streets of an Essex town a German Dornier 17 bomber was shot down by Hurricanes of the' Fighter Command to-day. The Hurricane pilots were on the way home from patrol over the North Sea when they found the Dornier attacking the Essex town.' By the time the Hurricanes reached the scene the enemy aircraft had climbed to a height of 4000 ft. The German pilot tried dodging in and out of the clouds, but several of the Hurricanes got in bursts of machinegun fire and the Dornier crashed 20 miles away near a searchlight post. One Hurricane pilot who had helped shoot down the Dornier landed near and was congratulated by the surprised searchlight crew who had taken four of the German airmen prisoners. They were more surprised by his size than by his victory. He was just over 4ft. 3in.' in height, and one of the smallest pilots in the Royal Air Force.