GALLANT POLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1941, Page 6

GALLANT POLE

SCORE OPENED AGAINST NAZIS TWO MESSERSCHMITTS DESTROYED. AND PROBABLY ANOTHER. (Bi'itish Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, June 25. A 25-year-old newcomer to the famous Polish squadron opened his score in the first offensive sweep on Monday by shooting down one Messerschmitt 109 and probably a second. In the second sweep that day he destroyed a third enemy machine—this one he rammed, cutting off its tail with the propeller of his Spitfire, after all his ammunition was gone. He is now in hospital, suffering from a cqt on the forehead and a broken collarbone. His squadron was acting as escort in an attack on a target in Northern France. When he was 50 miles inside France, at 14,000 feet, a Messerschmitt 109 flew in to attack. Wheeling round, he fired five bursts with a cannon. The third burst blew the enemy into tiny pieces. The Polish pilot was about to take up his position when he saw a Messerschmitt 109 attack a compatriot. He fired two short bursts at the Messerschmitt, which started a dogfight. When the Messerschmitt turned away, the Polish pilot chased after him. A short burst sent the enemy down in flames. Again the pilot attempted to rejoin his squadron over the Channel, but he was attacked by another Messerschmitt 109. When the Pole realised that he had run out of ammunition, he turned sharply inside the Messerschmitt and rammed it, cutting off the whole of its tail unit with his airscrew. His windscreen was covered with oil and a broken fragment from the enemy got him in the face. He made for the English coast, blinded by blood which poured from his wound, and landed in a small field. The aircraft struck a telegraph pole and in the crash he broke a collarbone. By his success he brought this squadron's score to 151 enemy planes destroyed since the last day of August, 1940.