GREAT RECORD OF R.A.F.

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 84, 3 January 1940, Page 7

GREAT RECORD OF R.A.F.

Wartime Figures

27 MASS FLIGHTS INTO GERMANY

Enemy Planes Destroyed

Total 58

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, January I. The coastal command of the Royal Air Force stretches from the Arctic Circle to the Bay of Biscay and from the western coasts of Europe to some hundred miles west of Ireland. Its aircraft from the outbreak of the war to Christmas Day had flown over 3,570,000 miles, accomplished in 44,000 flying hours. During that time enemy submarines have been sighted 107 times and 57 attacks have been made on them. Air escorts have been provided for 400 convoys. The Bomber Command made 27 mass flights over Germany. About 90 German aircraft attempted to cross the British coast or to operate in British territorial waters and of these 28 are known to have been brought down by British aircraft and three by anti-aircraft guns. One crashed. Altogether 58 German machines have been destroyed since the war began, six by anti-aircraft fire, one in a crash, and 51 by British air action.

Among the tasks of the coastal command is to provide escorts for the fishing fleets. The Navy has dubbed aircraft so employed “kipper kites.”