500 Machines In Mass Attacks The Air Ministry news service issued the following early this morning:- Yesterday the German Air Force again made mass attacks on. harbours, aerodromes, and shipping along the South Coast of England, and once again the R.A.F. Fighter Command and the anti-aircraft guns inflicted heavy punishment on the raiders. Latest reports reveal that Spitfire and Hurri- cane pilots shot down 32 German bombers and fighters. It is probable, but not confirmed, that many more were destroyed. Anti-aircraft guns had their best day since raids on the South Coast began. They shot down seven bombers. So far, reports have been received that nine British pilots are missing. For the first time Lewis gunners of a searchlight company in this country saw-their bullets hit and bring to earth a German raider. They first saw this aircraft, a Junkers 87 dive bomber, diving over them towards its objec- tive. They waited to open fire till it was very close-to them, and then saw it continue its dive to destruction. Light anti-aircraft guns in the Portsmouth area brought three Junkers 87s down in flames. Crews of heavier anti-aircraft guns watched their shells bursting round German bombers which looked like specks in the sky. Soon the specks were seen to be aircraft struggling in vain to keep their height, and a few seconds later they crashed to earth. The white para- chutes of German airmen were seen among the shellburst of anti-aircraft fire. Gunners of one battery secured a direct hit on an enemy bomber, which then exploded in mid-air. Two complete machine-guns from it were seen to fall to earth. THREE POINTS ATTACKED In the mid-morning the enemy began mass attacks at three points-over Portsmouth, the Channel, and the'Thames Estuary. At one time it was estimated that there were nearly 500 enemy aircraft in action. TwYo pilots learned a few minutes before they took off to engage the enemy this morning that they had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. They belong to a squadron which went up to attack an enemy formation which was flying off the South Coast at a height of 20,000ft. One is a Canadian flight- lieutenant, and in yesterday's air battle he shot down two more enemy raiders, bringinghis total to six. The other pilot is a South African. Yesterday he shot down one Messerschmitt fighter, making his total bag also six. The Canadian flight-lieutenant saw in front of him six Messerschmitt 109 fighters flying in line astern. He, attacked the second German fighter, which went down with smoke pouring from the fuselage. Then he opened fire on the leading Messerschmitt. The South African flying officer took on the last Messerschmitt, which immediately dived towards the sea. As he turned his Hurricane round in the sky and climbed slightly, another Messerschmitt flew across his bows. The South African opened fire,at point-blank range. " Dense smoke and liquid poured from the German pilot's machine," said the flying officer when he-landed. " Although my engine stopped I dived after him. Fortunately my engine restarted. The Messerschmitt pilot pulled out of his dive at about 6,000ft. and then started to dive again. I was hot on his tail, and at 3,000ft. opened fire. The German continued to dive and landed on the water. Within a minute the aircraft had sunk, and I saw the pilot swimming about in the middle of a big patch of air bubbles which had been caused by the sinking of his machine. I sent back a message on my radio-telephone asking for a launch to be sent out to the German air- man's rescue and giving his position. I then flew back to mv base." SERIES OF DOG-FIGHTS The Canadian flight lieutenant reported when he landed that t'he leading Messerschniitt caught fire after he had attacked it. " The air was filled with Nazi aircraft," said thc Canadian. " There seemed to be thousands of Messerschmitts, Spitfires, and Hurricanes all, mixed up in a series of dog- fights. The three Hurricanes which I was lead- ing concentrated on the six Messerschmitts. I saw the South African shoot down his Messer- schmitt and the other pilot of the flight fire a long burst at another Messerschmitt. He broke away when only 25 yards from the German machine, which went streaming down towards the sea, but we did not see it crash into the water. so we have not claimed it as a victim. Oil poured from another Messerschmitt which I had attacked, covering not only my windscreen but my entire aircraft. I followed him down and saw him crash into the water. I climbed back to 15.00ft. and saw a Messerschmitt chasing a Hurricane. I dived down on its tail to sea level. He zoomed up to 5,000ft. I followed, and after my first burst of fire he blew up in the air, and I watched pieces of flaming aircraft fall into the sea." The same squadron learned yesterday that one of its pilots, who had been missing since May 15, was safe and well. 500 MACHINES IN MASS ATTACKS ACCURATE SHOOTING BY A.A. GUNNERS R.A.F. PILOTS' STORIES