ENEMY SHIPPING ATTACKED

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 7

ENEMY SHIPPING ATTACKED

E.A.F. CONTINUES

OFFENSIVE

AERODROMES AGAIN

RAIDED

(Received August 21, 11 p.m.)

(U.P.A.-8.0.W.) LONDON, Aug. 21. Hudson aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked enemy shipping off the coast of Norway last night, while other machines raided aerodromes in enemy-occupied country. It is believed that the Royal Air Force daylight offensive was continued this morning when machines were seen flying over the south-east coast.

Au Air Ministry communque says that yesterday afternoon Blenheims of the Bomber Command and a fighter escort attacked an • enemy aerodrome near Alkmaar, in . Holland. Bombs burst across the target. One hangar received a direct hit. Other Blenheuns attacked enemy shipping, including a number of patrol vessels near the Frisian Islands. British fighters carried out several offensive patrols over the Channel and Northern France.

In the day's operations British lighters destroyed three enemy fighters. The British losses were two fighters, but the pilot of one is safe. Four of the squadrons which participated in the offensive operations over Holland reported that they were shadowed by Messerschmitt 109’s and Messerschmitt 110’s, but the German aircraft made no attempt to come within fighting range in spite of the slower rate of travel of the escorted bombers. No enemy aircraft were encountered over northern France.

Further reports of Tuesday’s operations show that 14 enemy fighters were destroyed. One of the four pilots rescued from destroyed British fighters on Tuesday was a member of the American Eagle Squadron and owes the fact that he was neither killed in a crash landing in France nor taken prisoner to the presence of mind of a fellow pilot. He was attacked by a Messerschmitt over the French coast while returning with his squadron from an offensive sweep by the Fighter Command. His fellow pilot tried to warn him, but the warning was not heard. , “So I attacked the Messerschmitt myself,” the second pilot said afterwards. “I saw it going down steeply towards the French coast, and I then came up close alongside the pilot I had tried to warn. I thought he was going to try to land in France. So I shouted to him over the radio; ‘Don’t turn—keep going straight. You have plenty of height.’ Apparently he heard me because he began to glide towards the English coast. When he was nearly over this side I saw him with his parachute open going down towards the sea and two rescue boats dashing out. He was picked up and brought into Dover.”

All four pilots were picked up by the Sea Rescue Service. One of them, a Belgian, had shot down a Messerschmitt the day before.

Another was a member of the new Canadian fighter squadron which distinguished itself over France during the day by destroying four enemy fighters. The squadron was taking part in its first big operation since it joined a south of England fighter command group a few days ago. It was escorting bombers in a daylight raid when, to quote the squadron leader, “a whole outfit of Messerschmitts ‘stooged’ along below us. Conditions were perfect for an attack, and we dived straight at them from the sun. The fighting was all over in three minutes with four Messerschmitts in the sea. One of our pilots had to bail out after getting a Hun, but he was picked up after a few minutes and was back in the mess with us in time for tea.”

Only one German aeroplane was over Britain last night. A few bombs were dropped in East Anglia and caused slight damage. No casualties have been reported. There was nothing to report about enemy activity in daylight yesterday.

The Berlin radio stated that German aeroplanes on Tuesday night penetradted as far as Aberdeen.

Wing Commander Bader Wounded.— The German radio announced that Wing Commander D. R. S. Bader, who was recently shot down over France, was among three British pilot officers found wounded and admitted to hospital, Wing Commander Bader has sent a message to the Royal Air Force through the International Red Cross saying: “Leg thankfully received.”— Rugby, August 20,