AERIAL CONFLICT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 201, 3 June 1940, Page 8

AERIAL CONFLICT

CONTINUOUS OVER THE COAST, MANY GERMANS SHOT DOWN. BOMBING OF MILITARY OBJECTS. (United Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, June 2. An Air Ministry communique states: “Night bombers, in spite of thick fog, reprovisioned our forces in the region of Dunkirk and brought back valuable information about enemy artillery activity, particularly north of the Peron-ne-Amiens line and north-east of Abbeville. “Bombers attacked objectives north of Amiens and Abbeville, bombed mo torised columns between Doullens and Abbeville, harassed a tank convoy in the Abbeville region, and brought down a Messerschmitt. Bombers also attacked enemy occupied airfields and dropped 22 tons of explosives. These missions attacked a strong force of German bombers flying towards the Rhone, shooting down a number of them.’ 5 The air battle over the Dunkirk beaches began again at dawn on Saturday. Soon the Royal Air Force fighter patrols had shot down 14 Nazi' fighters and seriously damaged five more.

All Friday this battle in the skies raged unceasingly, while on the sands below the withdrawal of the Allied troops continued. Hour after hour German bombers protected by swarms of fighters came over in an attempt to harass the, withdrawing army. Hour after hour, Royal Air Force fighters waged relentless war against them. British ’Planes Outnumbered. At dusk, British fighter pilots had shot down 56 bombers and fighters, of which 42 were seen to crash in the sea, although the, British fighters wore heavily outnumbered —sometimes more than five to one. A squadron of Spitfires, during a single patrol yesterday, shot down a mixed bag of two Messerpchmitt 110 twin-engined fighters, two Junkers 88 dive-bombers, a Messerschraitt 109, and a Dornier 215 bomber. On dawn patrol this morning another Spitfire squadron in a few minutes ac-: counted for - six Messerschmitt 110's, three Messerschmitt 109’s, and probably three More Messerschmitt 110’s. German Torpedo-Boat Slink. The Air Ministry announced yesterday: “We destroyed or seriously damaged 50 enemy aeroplanes yesterday on the north-eastern coast of France. Our dawn patrol fighters oyer Dunkirk to-day shot down 10 German fighters. Two of our bombers and one reconnaissance aeroplane were lost during bombing operations in Flanders yesterday. Sixteen of our fighters did not return yesterday. » “Our naval aircraft sank an enemy torpedo-boat ofF the Belgian coast today. Our medium and heavy bombers yesterday and last night bombed the enemy in Flanders and obtained hits, against marching troops, motor transport columns and heavy artillery. Our aeroplanes also destroyed lockgates and bridges. - “To-day three Avro Anson bombers of the Coastal Command were engaged by nine Messerschmitt fighters off the Belgian coast. In a running fight 50 feet above the sea two of the enemy were shot down and two disabled, and the rest flew away. Our aircraft returned safely. “Last night aircraft of the Bomber Command carried out heavy bombing attacks round Nieuport and on port facilities at Ostend. Many hits were made ,followed by fires and explosions. • “Medium bombers of the Royal Ah' Force and Fleet Air Arm have continued to support the withdrawal operations of the British Expeditionary Force throughout the day. Canal brides, motor transport, railway junctions, and troops have been repeatedly attacked. In the Dunkirk area to-day the number of enemy aircraft confirmed as having been destroyed by aircraft of the ,Fighter Command has already reach 40. Thirty-three more are reported as having been destroyed or severely damaged. Thirteen of our aircraft are reported missing in the Narvik area.

Destruction at Rotterdam “The petrol and oil stores 'at Hotter - darn, which were again tombed early mi Saturday morning by aircraft of the Coastal Command, are believed by the crews of the aircraft concerned to have been totally destroyed. “Coastal Command aircraft alsoi successfully bombed the enemy occupied haybours of Weleiusoord and Marsdiep, in Holland. Direct hits were made on quays, harbours, and equipment, and on an enemy merchant vessel.” Three. Nazi motor torpedo-boats, prowling off the Belgian coast in the hope of attacking British transports were attacked by aircraft this morning. One was sunk. Aircraft belonging to a Fleet Air Arm unit co-operating with the Coastal Command spotted the motor torpedo-boats cruising in lino astern. -They*opened firo on an aeroplane which dropped a line of six bombs. A minute after the bursts the pilot saw that two of the motor-boats were stationary and silent. There was PO' sign of the third. A French official evening communique says: “In the evening of May 31, our bombers heavily attacked enemy columns and proof} concentrations in spite of the activities of enemy fighters. Our aeroplanes'carried out extensive reconnaissance over the Meuse, Moselle and Rhine. In the afternoon of June 1, our fighters attacked a number of German aeroplanes over the Rhine Valley. Several enemy machines were brought down.”