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Flight-Sergeant Franklin has shot down ten enemy aircraft, and ased in destroying a further two.
On one occasion he encountered seven fighters, engaged five and destroyed one.
Tt was revealed at the Air Ministry that the German air fleet attacking shipping in the Channel was taken on by 12 Hurricane pilots. They tackled a formation of 50 Junkers bombers, protected by fighters, The majority of German fighters were Messerschmitts, but some of Germany's new Heinkel 113's were tried out for the first time since their irregular appearance during the Battle of France, The Hurricane pilots shot down six Junkers dive-bombing 873's and three Messerschmitt 109's as' well as damaging others, In doing so they relieved the engagement fought by the same squadron over two months ago in defence of the retreating BEF. Then nearly ten of them tackled 35 Junkers, shooting down six of the e for certain. Possibly three s were destroyed.
A formation of British fighters on patrol today was near the scene of the action, but made contact no with the Germans.
A Reuter reporter R.A.F. score a brilliant ssu a British coastal town this morning against German raiders, who were, routed and put to flight by Spitfire: which engaged them in a terrific dog fight in the outlayers of a cloud.
After the raiders persed, the Spitfires resumed patrol.
The battling aircraft often swooped to within a few hundred feet of roof-tops. For half an hour there were almost continuous exchanges of cannon and machinegun fire between Messerschmitts and Spitfires. The was sometimes shattering.
eye-witness saw no bombs Anti-aircraft guns were silent.
Gunners let the aircraft fight it out among themselves.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.