CRIPPLED RAIDER CRASHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 10, 13 January 1941, Page 6

CRIPPLED RAIDER CRASHES

FOUR OCCUPANTS CAPTURED [ British Official Wireless. I Received Jan 12. 7.10 p.m. RUGBY. Jan. 11. The Air Ministry news service slates that Germany has lost her first bomber to an American fighter aircraft flown by British pilots. Flying Grumman single-seater fighters, naval pilots shot down a Junkers 88 bomber, all four German occupants being captured. Three of these aircraft were on patrol when the weather necessitated their recall to the base. One had actually landed when the pilot caught sight of a Junker 88. He promptly took off again and, climbing back into the clouds, rejoined his two companions just as one of them opened fire on the raider. . Smoke at once enveloped the Junkers and when the leader joined in the fight the German machine began to lose height as the pilot apparently searched for a landing place. The crippled raider glided down and the three British aircraft kept close watch to make sure it was not a ruse to dodge into the mist. The Junkers eventually crashed. The dog-fight had been watched by a retired naval captain and his son. They reached the wreckage as one of the crew was attempting to set fire to the machine. The captain covered him with a shot-gun and the son disarmed the four men and took them prisoner. One had been slightly injured.