THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 28, 1940
"Cobber's" Thrilling Escape After Shooting Down Two Messerschmidts In Dog-Fight
R.A.F.
PILOTS
IN FRANCE IN GRAND SHOW
LONDON, TO-DAY.
"
THE R.A.F. BROUGHT DOWN AT LEAST FIVE ENEMY PLANES IN FRANCE ON TUESDAY, IT HAS JUST BEEN REVEALED, WHILE TWO OTHERS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN AC- COUNTED FOR. ONE BRITISH FIGHTER WAS LOST. Three separate battles occurred in the morning, afternoon and early evening, when patrolling Hurricanes met German planes of four different types.
Encounters occurred and our, fight- enemy
ers, having broken up the
over the radio telephone "Messersch- matts ahead" and we just topped in. I gave instructions that each of us was to engage one of the enemy planes."
The enemy tackled us in two lots of two machines. The sky suddenly seemed clear and I was looking round at the sun to see where I was and trying to locate the other planes. There was nothing behind me.
Flames Roaring
I then became aware that one of the enemy machines was high above me waiting to see what was happening. before, he attacked. Then he came down and went for me. Suddenly the top of my hood flew away, There was a big bang in front of my eyes and I saw a jagged hole appear, as one of
formation, forced the enemy to aban- the cannon shells tore through. Flames |đon the reconnaissance.
and oil just poured into the cockpit, The shell had hit my petrol tank.
a
One British patrol encountered formation of nine enemy`åghters.
In the ensuing fight two enemy aircraft were seen descending in flames. One of our fighters was shot down, the pilot escaping by
chute-Reuter.
para-
I think the shock must have knock- ed me slightly unconscious. When I came to I was in a steep dive, flaming away. I managed to get the rest of the hood back. I bent down to turn off the petrol and tried to side; slip to get the flames out, and pulled the stick back to try and stall. Then I fum- bled with the straps of my parachute In the course of three distinct bat- and got out as quick as I could. Away tles. in the morning, afternoon and went the plane with flames roaring øll ·
tered 31 énemy machines of four dif- 'I felt very refreshed as the air
Three Battles-
London, To-day.
ferent types, namely, Messerschmitt cooled my face. I was feeling quite
109, Messerschmitt 110, a twin-engin-happy and did not think about pulling ed cannon-firing type, Heinkel and
(Cóntinued on Page 6)
Dornier.
mitts brought down and destroyed, and one Dornier and one Messerschmitt driven down and believed destroyed.
The day's bag was five Messersch-
SEE ROYAL'S
The five planes shot down for certain were all Mes-evening, seven British pilots encoun- over the place:
serschmidts and the two probably accounted for were a Messerschmidt and a Dornier. Acting Squadron-Leader Kain, a 21-year-old New Zealander, known as "Cobber," who is already famous for his exploits, brought his total bag up to five by accounting for two Messerschmidts.. This time he narrowly es- Commanding-in-Chief In France, has war now totals eleven enemy 'machines caped with his life, and as he sent a glowing telegram of congratu-known to have
lations to the British fighter pilots. two more as possibles. limped about his mess yester. It is now proudly displayed in their "Cobber,” the 21-year-old New Zea- day, with one leg peppered by mess-Reuter.
lander who is such a terror to the Ger- shrapnel from cannon shells.
mans, added to his laurels by bagging he told an amazingly graphic
two. Messerschmitts, bringing his total bag to five with a possible sixth. story.
He told how he and two other Hurricane pilots ran into a flight of nine Messerschmidts in the early afternoon.
Just
"We took one apiece and went in. I hit one and he spun down In smoke and flames. "Then, for a time, there was a free-for-all until I got another Messerschmidt and sent him down.
Swooped On Me
"I looked round and the sky seem- ed clear. But one of the Messersch- midts was hovering high above, wait- ing to see how the battle was go- ing to turn out,
".
"He swooped on me and the next thing, I knew was a terrific' bang In front of my eyes.
"The top of my hood flew away, a great jagged hole appeared in my engine, and flames and oil poured into the cockpit.
"I was almost knocked unconscl- ous by the shock but came to and managed to 'bale out.'
"For a long time I never, thought about pulling the rip-cord of my parachute. Then I did so and floated down in a kind of daze, enjoying the cool air on my face,
"When I passed through a thlok layer of white clouds I thought to myself, quite seriously, 'This Is heaven!!
Landed In No-Man's Land
"I landed in a field in No-Man's Land and stumbled towards a wood where I covered up my parachute with earth and wire. N
"A French captalɲ came-running towards me with revolver polnod. When he found who I was he help ed me back "Into the French linea.
her's" tivo – companions each chased a
hmidt, and one.d”- ing officer: sent opponent downsi flames.
The other '-- ports that his
through the cloud.
ing behind him
gean
Air Marshal, Barral
pilot disappeared
smoke trail
The Official Bulletin
London, To-day.
- A War Ministry bulletin from head- quarters of the British Air Force in France announces a marked increase in aerial activity on Tuesday in the neighbourhood of Metz.
A formation of seven enemy. re- connaissance craft, escorted by fighters, were. Intercepted and.. en gaged by British fighters.
OFF THE RECORD
ED REED
Here's Luck
the
This squadron's score during
been destroyed 'with
Here in his own words is his graphic story of his engagement with the enemy, which took place during the afternoon battle.
"I was the leader of a flight of three Hurricanes out on patrol. Attracted by bursts of anti-aircraft fire we ran into nine Messerschmitt 109's, I shouted
plinters!"
By ED REED.
EWO BEER
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