Incident Over Ruhr - Night Fighter Battle
Jul 7, 2022 18:40:29 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 7, 2022 18:40:29 GMT 12
INCIDENT OVER RUHR
NIGHT-FIGHTERS DUEL
GERMAN PLANE EXFLODES
(Special Correspondent) Rcd. 6.30 p.m.) PARIS, March 8
Night-fighter fought night-fighter over the Ruhr recently when a Mosquito of the New Zealand Squadron intercepted a Junkers 88. The ten-minute fight ended with the Junkers exploding.
The Mosquito was flown by Flight-Lieutenant K. W. Stewart, of Dunedin, and Flying-Officer H. E. Brumby, of Auckland, who notched their third kill and raised the squadron's score of enemy aircraft to 60.
"We circled round each other for several minutes while flying at 10,000 ft to 14.000 ft." said Flight-Lieutenant Stewart. "I missed him with the first burst, but after the second burst we saw the Junkers catch fire and then blow up so violently that the explosion illuminated our Mosquito."
The New Zealanders complain that in recent months of patrolling over enemy country from an airfield in France, few Germans have been operating. They have flown night after night without even an opportunity of firing their cannons.
One of the most impressive sights has been "Monty's moonlight," for British ground troops operating at nights. Sometimes as many as 40 searchlights have been used.
Another spectacle has been that of V2 rocket bombs shooting skyward. A rocket is first seen as a flash of flame which becomes a ball of light that seems to rise leisurely into the sky, although it is travelling between 400 to 500 miles an hour. When it reaches about 30,000 ft, the light changes to an amber colour as it continues to climb vertically. From then on it appears to travel much faster, reaching a terrific speed as it finally fades from sight. A period of about half a minute elapses from the time the rocket is fired until it finally disappears.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9 MARCH 1945
NIGHT-FIGHTERS DUEL
GERMAN PLANE EXFLODES
(Special Correspondent) Rcd. 6.30 p.m.) PARIS, March 8
Night-fighter fought night-fighter over the Ruhr recently when a Mosquito of the New Zealand Squadron intercepted a Junkers 88. The ten-minute fight ended with the Junkers exploding.
The Mosquito was flown by Flight-Lieutenant K. W. Stewart, of Dunedin, and Flying-Officer H. E. Brumby, of Auckland, who notched their third kill and raised the squadron's score of enemy aircraft to 60.
"We circled round each other for several minutes while flying at 10,000 ft to 14.000 ft." said Flight-Lieutenant Stewart. "I missed him with the first burst, but after the second burst we saw the Junkers catch fire and then blow up so violently that the explosion illuminated our Mosquito."
The New Zealanders complain that in recent months of patrolling over enemy country from an airfield in France, few Germans have been operating. They have flown night after night without even an opportunity of firing their cannons.
One of the most impressive sights has been "Monty's moonlight," for British ground troops operating at nights. Sometimes as many as 40 searchlights have been used.
Another spectacle has been that of V2 rocket bombs shooting skyward. A rocket is first seen as a flash of flame which becomes a ball of light that seems to rise leisurely into the sky, although it is travelling between 400 to 500 miles an hour. When it reaches about 30,000 ft, the light changes to an amber colour as it continues to climb vertically. From then on it appears to travel much faster, reaching a terrific speed as it finally fades from sight. A period of about half a minute elapses from the time the rocket is fired until it finally disappears.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9 MARCH 1945
