London, Sept. 5. AS tee-scale fighter combats, ending in a 11-7 RAF, victory, blazed up again over northern France yester y, a Flying Fortress bombed Rotterdam docks and then climbed like'a "rocket" to shake off two Messerschmitts.
Spitfires and Hurricanes, which have recently found no opposition, encountered squadrons of Messerschmitts in offensive operations over northern France and shot down nine, while one South African pilot bagged two more in half a minute during a 20-minute lunch-time trip over the- Channel.
'A large R.A.F. bomber-fighter group was seen to'cross the Channel a ud return in the afternoon.
Returning over the North Sea after successfully bombing: Rotterdam from 'a great height, one of Britain's giant American-built "Flying Fortresses vas pursued by two enemy fighters. The captain of another. British, alr-craft, who watched the proceedings. Says tha: the angle of the climb was great that vapour trails of both Dursiers and pursued were like trail The Foriress steadily increased its speed, and the Messerschmitts. gave the chase when still 4,000 feet Below the high-flying bomber.
"The gunner, in the 'Fortress felt the twinge of toothache owing to the steep rate of climb, but otherwise hone of-the crew suffered, "and no damage was done to the' aircraft. {ays the Alr Ministry News Service.
"AR "British Air Ministry com= munique issued just before midnight Yesterday states: "The TA', renew-&d. offensive over northern' France, and wag strongly supported by fight erg, in these attacks.
othe attacks were on an Industrial plant at Mazingarbe, near Bethune, and on the docks at! Cherbourg. At Both places, bombs were dropped.
"Out ighters hit many enemy planes during. combats and destroyed hine enemy" fighters. "Two. others Wore shot down by one of our air erate en patrol. making a total of 11 enemy uireraft' destroyed during the ai "Your aircraft bombed the docks at Rotterdam "in, thous gperstions Ravey were, seven Aghters. and' one Bionielm "vomber"conenides the
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