EAGLE PILOTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 231, 1 October 1941, Page 5

EAGLE PILOTS

TWO FIGHT THEIR WAY HOME FROM FRANCE A THRILLING ACCOUNT (Recd. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby. Sept. 29. Two American Eagle pilots on an offensive patrol insiae Frame had to tight every inch of their wax he.;.. They destroyed two pursueis am damaged another. The younge&t member of l?." lk’._o Squadron, wno has now destioxeJ live enemy aircraft, was on pat.ol with a comrade. On his wa} out of France h< saw a Messers, hmill 1-0 L.kmg uli. out iicfore they got within i; the;, saw another one oehind it. li .ite.iu’. i this but did not see the result as he ' swept ahead. His comrade, IK mg b - hind, had seen lour others 1av..., oil and shot al one oi them. The two. American pilots were towards tne enu of their patrol and had not sulm.. ni petrol to start a dog-tight w.lh tiie.: opponents, who ha-i o<n li .m ? fuelled, they decided to icuve wt .. enough alone and return io theii , base. They flew out. one at 5U tvvl j and th i serschmilt 109's dived on the Spitfires' halfway across the Channel. “Two attacked my comrade, ’’ >a.d I the Eagle pilot, deserming the experience, “and four fastened on to ;.r . • One enemy aircraft on m\ tail opened lire and 1 was flanked on both sides. I I gave one a live seconds' burst with j cannon and machine-gun. It shud- • tiered violently, flicked on its bat x and dived into the sea. The enemy on my i starboard side made a beam atta-L ' durmg this action and blew mj hood ■ off. i turned alter him as he passed behind me and gave him all 1 had got. 1 Large pieces flew off him. 1 turneu I tor the English coast but the Messer- 1 schmitt 109 F pilots, probably seeking I revenge, pursued me all the way to 1 Dover, tiring all the time. I used all I the evasive tactics 1 knew nut the enemy aircraft was flown by a ver\ ! experienced pilot who often rega.m his position on my tail. Even :n lhe hectic chase, however, 1 had time to i see one thing that gave me a kick I another Messerschmitt 109 go mto the ; sea. shot down Dy my comrade. ' 8.0.W.