1940-12-16 — Page 3

A Day's Work In An R.A.F. Fighter Command Squadron

Pilot's Story Of Battles Over Channel

A PILOT OFFICER D.F.C. recently award- ed the D.S.O. in the field, who has shot down over twenty aircraft over Britain, gave a thrilling account of a “day's work” in a broad- cast from London yesterday.

"We were up early in the morning," he said. "We hadn't long to wait before I was told to take off and climb over the Channel.

Soon we ran across a squadron of German fighters and in a few seconds the sky was full of both of us. I had a quick bang at one and then at another!

Then I made a turn up sun and joined two aircraft that were climbing, when I discovered was following two Messerschmidt 109 fighters at only a few yards distance. In fact I was formating

on them.

By the time I realised my mis- fake they had turned away from the sun and I opened fire on them. I came up behind one and gave him a burst and he dropped down into the Channel. When I gave the leader a burst he just explod- ed in mid-air.

All that was between six and seven-a total of seven altogether, were destroyed. The boys were thinking of breakfast when word came through that things were blowing up again. Off we went on the same old chase.

On returning we found the squadron leader had accounted 10"| another and so had two other pi- lots.

9 A.M. Score

The score at 9 a.m. was ten Ger- mans destroyed, our losses being three machines hit and needing

repair and one pilot baled out.

Soon we were told to proceed

to a convoy and patrol it.

The squadron was settling down to the routine job when there was an appalling noise on our radio telephone. Three people at once had seen about 40 bombers groups of three spread over abou a mile. That cheered us up a lot. One of the flight commanders

to

thought the enemy had already at- the way back, and gave chase only

tacked the convoy and were

011

escort going in the direction of a convoy.

We were able to lose with the fighter escort.

I gave chose to a straggler.

machine-gun got in a burst of

He dived and I followed, fire. giving him another burst, when the pilot jumped out, The ma- the beach, chine crashed into bursting into flames.

Back at our aerodrome we found the squadron had attacked 38 enemy aircraft of which 21

definitely destroyed, were British Wireless.

Capture of five generals In the Western Desert last week was not the first instance since the Egyptian campaign began. This photo shows Major-General Romolo la Strucci, who was captured by a British raiding force during a sally into Libya.

Germany Sticking To Invasion Plans!

un-

According to the Wilhelmstrasse, the favourable turn in the Italian operations in Al- bania and Egypt will not influence German military decisions or lead Germany to give Ita- ly active assistance, said the Berlin-correspon- dent of the "Basler Nachrichten" yesterday.

Germany, the 'correspondent adds, is "ten- aciously sticking to her plan to seek a final de- cision against Britain in the British Isles them- selves. Reuter.

COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN FINAL OUTCOME

THE MOMENTOUS military events of the past week have had a tremendous effect throughout Egypt.

Egyptians have always believed that Egypt's fate was linked closely with Britain's. During recent months, however, they have had to face a tenden- tious whispering campaign inaugurated by the thou- sands of Italians living freely in the country and abusing its hospitality, and deliberately circulating | reports calculated to sow distrust of the Allies.

the greatest degree Anglo-

The inhabitants of Cairo are

to discover they were coming to- Nevertheless the Egyptians re- In wards him and before he could mained steadfast in loyalty to the Egyptian friendship.' slow up he had gone right through Allies. the centre of them with the other Examples of Italian under-expressing the greatest jubilation, two members of his section blaz-ground activity reveal the arrog- ing, away.

ance of the Italian colony.

This shook the German pilots Many in rééant' months have so much that they immediately even refused to pay their rent, broke formation, German fight-telling their landlords that any er-bombers started forming One of their famous defensive circles.

Nazi Swimmers

action against them

Would be useless as it was only a matter of weeks before Graziani'i vio- forious troops. Would' 'enter the country..

By this time there were several. Germans lying in the water all Immediate reaction to the Bri- smashed up with the crews swim-tish successes in the Western De- ming round.

sert is manifested in the wave of Spitfires were new diving in confidence throughout the coun- and out of the circle.

I got my sights into one bom- ber and gave him a long burst and 'one of my tracer bullets must. have hit the petrol tank as in a few seconds he was a mass of Armes and down he went into

the sea

try.

Filgrims For Metca

Â

General Wavell on Saturday drone to the Gezira Club for race meeting and was loudly checred by Egyptians and for- eigners alike. — Reuter.

!

DOCTOR PRISONER OF WAR

Dr. J. H. T. Challis, of the Lon- don Hospital, who was posted missing while serving with the RAM.C., is a prisoner of war.

Dr. Challis is the anaesthetist A small example of this is the who: last September-Hew with fact that 10 Moslems on Saturday Mr. H. S. Souttar, the Harley registered with the Government. Street surgeon, to Bombay, where as intending pilgrims to Mecca. they attended a woman relative

of the Maharajah of Nepal.

They travelled' about 12,000 miles.

I aimbed up to cloud base. This number exceeds all those Pagálna when mother bomber made who registered up to, thên.

for me. A short burst silenced

his reer gunner,

As I closed my range his má» chine' rolled over and fell upside

down into the sea,

21 OUT OF 38

Checking up the

gurcs

found a total of 20 enemy air Verárt had been destroyed.

Newspapers in Cairo continuò todtiplay reports from the Western Döyöttinger Banker headlines.

Representative of the opinton of the entire Arabic

SERIOUS LOSS

press, "Al

A1 While travelling from the Tung

wo Ahram". Ceclares; The British On Wharf, to No. 121, Thomson success proves that the Anglo- Road, Wanchal, between 1.20 p.m Egyptian Treaty is a necessity for and 2 45 p.m. yesterday," Kwan After lunch we went up aga' safeguarding the country's inte- Yu-kee lost or had stolen We saw in the distance about grity. There is no doubt that the from his pocket, $1,100, two 20 dive-bombèra “and” -fighter week's events have strengthened $600-notes and one $100-note

VALONA TWICE BOMBED

THE ALBANIAN PORT OF VALONA --WAB TWICE RAIDED BY THE RAIF. ON BATUR. DAY, IT 15 ANNOUNCED FROM HEADQUARTERS OF THE BRI- TIBH AIR FORCES, IN GREECE. In the first attack bombs fell among military stores and ori 3 motor transport park. A column of black smoke was seen to rise from the motor transport con- centration and although clouds prevented füll observation, the army barracks were also seen to be hit.

On the second attack the aero- drome was bombed, all bombs falling in the target area, and an enemy aircraft about to take off spun round on a wing tip and stopped.

Bri-

From all operations all British aircraft returned safely. -tish Wireless.

CHOPPER MURDER

Three Chinese were charged at the Central Magistracy before Mr. H. G. Sheldon, K.C., this morn- Wong ing with the murder of Hing at Shaukiwan on December 11.

Accused,

Fu-hoi, Tang

17, boler "maker, "Wông "Kwat; 18, coblie, and Pun Tak-wah, 17, were alleged to have attacked the deceased with a chopper in Sai Wah Ho Market.

1

Detective Inspector W. N. Dar- kin's request for 72 hours re- mand for further enquiries was granted.

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