ENEMY LOSES 23 ’PLANES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21958, 9 May 1941, Page 5

ENEMY LOSES 23 ’PLANES

Success Of Night Fighters

R.A.F. Has Good Week

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (11 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. Twenty-three enemy planes were shot down during raids over Britain last night—22 by night fighters. The total “bag” for the week was 75.

Fighters of the Royal Air Force had a busy and successful day yesterday states the Air Ministry News Service. They managed to bring to battle a number of German fighters on patrol off the northern coast of France and in the Strait of Dover after weeks of being unable to make them fight. In the process they shot down and destroyed six enemy fighters and severely damaged a number of others. All six German fighters destroyed were Messerschmitt 109’s.

“Free For AU Fight” One Spitfire squadron got six in three different “dog fights” off the Kentish coast. The first battle began soon after dawn, two being shot down in this engagement. It was a “free for all fight” which began when four Spitfires from a squadron intercepted eight Messerschmitts. Describing the action one pilot said “they were a short distance away, flying in line astern, when we first saw them. I turned in on the enemy and they at once formed a defensive circle, but this soon broke up when we went into the attack. I gave one German a good burst and then broke away. WJien I turned back he was slowly spinning down.” Another pilot in the same section of the squadron began an attack on a Messerschmitt 109 from a considerable distance. Hie enemy dived straight down to sea level but was overtaken. When trying to climb away he was fired at again and black smoke poured from his engine. He rolled over on his back and dived straight down to the sea. In addition to six Nazi fighters an enemy bomber was shot down yesterday morning by Royal Air Force fighters and another hostile aircraft was destroyed off the East Coast of Scotland, bringing the number of enemy aircraft destroyed during daylight yesterday to eight. Night raiders appeared over a wide area soon after dark last night, including Merseyside, Western and South-Eastern England. To 6.30 a.m. 17 enemy bombers had been shot down by night fighters. Tongues of flame leapt skywards in many parts of Britain last night as all types of incendiaries and explosives were rained down on waterside towns in another heavy German attack. The bombers’ targets again were widespread but Royal ‘ Air Force nightfighters had considerable success. The Home Guard and police were busy all night roundtag up Germans who parachuted from stricken bombers. Several crashed in flames giving the crews no chance of escape.

Casualties May Be Heavy An Air Ministry communique describes enemy activity last night as again heavy with sharp attacks on Merseyside, north-west and north-east areas, also the number district and the Bristol Channel area. Extensive damage,-was done. Reports thus far indicate that the casualties will be heavy. Raiders also caused damage and a small number of casualties in East Anglia and south-west England. Royal Air Force attacked Brest and other objectives in enemy-occupied territory. ________