NAZI BOMBERS SHOT DOWN

Southland Times, Issue 24181, 18 July 1940, Page 7

NAZI BOMBERS SHOT DOWN

Raids On British Coast HEINKELS MEET FLYING-BOAT (British Official Wireless) (Received July 17, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 16. It is officially announced that Royal Air Force fighters shot down three bombers in the course of enemy raids on the British coast ■‘his afternoon. One Hawker Hurricane pilot shot down two Junkers 88 bombers into the English Channel on Tuesday afternoon. About the same time other Fightex - Command pilots patrolling in Supermarine Spitfires off the north-east coast of Scotland destroyed a Heinkel 111 bomber. The Hurricane pilot attacked the first Junkers above the clouds. After two bursts of machine-gun bullets he saw the enemy bomber start a 9000-feet death dive and watched it drop out of a cloud layer into the sea, where it sank at once. As he climbed again the British pilot saw another Junkers 88 fly out of'lhe clouds. Again he attacked and the yunkers dived to within 55 feet of the sba and then crashed. Two German airmen from the second Junkers climbed into a rubber boat. Seeing a tug a short distance away the Hurricane pilot flew backwards and forwards between it and the rubber boat until the Germans were picked up. PURSUIT BY SPITFIRES Three Spitfires engaged the Heinkel and in an attempt to escape the bomber dived steeply with the Spitfires in pursuit. The Heinkel’s rear gunner fought back fiercely and a Spitfire was hit by a bullet in one wing. After the British fighters had fired bursts into the bomber it glided down into the sea and two of the crew escaped in a rubber boat and were rescued by a Royal Air Force launch. One of the three bombers shot down first dropped bombs at several places on the north-east coast of Scotland, wrecking some houses and injuring a few persons. A raider seen over a town in the south-east area of England tonight apparently became aware of the presence of Royal Ah' Force fighters and dropped several bombs which fell into the mud. It was attacked over another town by fighters, one of which fired a “burst” into the undercarriage of the raider, which wobbled and appeared to come down in the Channel. HEINKEL DAMAGED Five Heinkels attacking a merchant ship off the south-west of England were scattered by a Short Sunderland flying-boat of the Royal Australian Air Force, operating with the Coastal Command. Firing only 120 machine-gun bullets, the Sunderland severely damaged one Heinkel and routed the others. The Heinkels were bombing the ship when the Sunderland captain spotted them several miles away. He climbed into a cloud and the first the Heinkels saw was the large flying-boat diving at them. The Sunderland’s front gunner put a burst into one Heinkel and then, as it banked and turned to port, he gave it another burst in the belly. The Heinkdl went into a cloud.

One of the other Heinkels approached the flying-boat from astern—but remembering the sting of the four guns there—would not come nearer than 1000 yards. The Australian in the Sunderland’s rear turret did not bother to return its fire at this distance. The Heinkel remained in this position while another one attacked the Sunderland from below and on the beam. This time the Sunderland’s rear guns were brought round and opened fire. The Heinkel broke off the engagement. That wa sthe end of the combat, though two was the end of the combat, though two of the Heinkels shadowed the Sunderland for a few minutes from a respectful distance.

KING AND QUEEN AT 8.8. C. (British Official Wireless) (Received July 17, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 16. The King and Queen paid an informal visit to Broadcasting House on Tuesday and made a special inspection of the overseas news department. Their Majesties spoke for .some time to Mr Gerald Wilmot and Mr Gerald Arthur, of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation overseas unit, and also to Lieutenant C. M. Bennett, of the Maori Battalion, who was in Broadcasting House making a recording for transmission to New Zealand. Their Majesties also talked with Mr Bokhari, Indian programme organizer, and other members of the Indian staff, including representatives from the All-India Radio. DIONNE QUINTUPLETS GIVE AMBULANCE NORTH BAY (Ontario), July 16. The Dionne quintuplets are giving a fully-equipped ambulance to the Canadian Red Cross. This decision was taken by their guardians. The ambulance will cost 1750 dollars. The quintuplets have previously given 1000 dollars, while 4000 dollars was raised for British war relief by an auction of their playthings. RISE IN BRITISH LIVING COSTS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, July 17. On July 1 the official cost of living figures were 87 points above the level for July 1914, compared with 81 points at June 1. The rise of six points is equivalent to rather more than 3 per cent. For food alone the index of July 1 was 68 points above the level of July 1914, showing a rise of 10 points or over six per cent, since June. The rise in food prices is chiefly caused by the price rises for potatoes and milk. The rise in the price of milk is in the first place a part of the seasonal changes which have occurred since the outbreak. Although the price to ordinary consumers has now risen it will not affect those for whom milk is essential. The milk-in-schools scheme takes care of those attending school, wlxile under the National Milk Scheme, set up by the Ministry of Food, one pint of milk a head daily can be obtained by expectant and nursing mothers and children under five at 2d a pint or free in the case of families with incomes below a certain limit.