WATER FOR CALAIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 201, 3 June 1940, Page 5

WATER FOR CALAIS.

AMMUNITION AND GRENADES. DROPPED BY AIR FORCE PLANES LONDON, May 2. Tho Air Ministry thus describes the feat of the Royal Air Force in dropping water, ammunition, andOiand grenades to the heroic garrison of Allied troops and marines- _ „. “Just as dawn was breaking, two sorties, each of 10 aircraft, left with water. In 20 minutes they were approaching Calais. The town was m hames, and the smoko pall somewhat obscured tho target. The leading aeroplanes met only light anti-aircraft fire, hut those following encountered heavy fire. One was lost, and most of thoso behind the leaders were hit soveral times. The aircraft came down to CO feet over the citadel.

“One of tho pilots said: “As far as I could judgo wo passed right over the target. I was in tho leading aircraft that dropped tho containers in the Western part of the fort, and I could see tho other 10 aircraft dropping their loads on tho eastern part. So far as I could see, wo were all right over the target.” “Later on, in mid-morning, more aircraft accompanied this time by dive-bombers who bombed the Germans while tho other aeroplanes were carrying out their mission, dropped smail arms ammunition and hand grenades into the citadel.”