GREAT EFFECT REVEALED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 195, 14 May 1940, Page 7

GREAT EFFECT REVEALED

R.A.F. Operations BOMBERS AND FIGHTERS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 12. The Air Ministry announces: A fuller account can now be given of R.A.F. operations since Saturday morning. Extensive reconnaissances show that much damage has been done by our aircraft to aerodromes in Holland used by the enemy for landing troops, and the enforced use of emergency landing grounds has caused the enemy very heavy losses in aircraft in addition to those destroyed by attacks from the air.

Fourteen out of 16 troop-carriers observed on one landing ground alone were seen to be damaged. It is noticeable that the enemy is now finding it necessary to employ much larger fighter patrols.

Some of our fighters engaged patrols 20 strong. Nevertheless, our fighter losses have not been heavy, and enemy aircraft have been unable to prevent, our troops from moving rapidly to the aid of our Allies. Further attacks have been made by the enemy on our aerodromes in France without causing serious damage. Our machine-gun posts put up a spirited defence and shot down a number of enemy bombers. Fighter aircraft patrolling The Hague and Rotterdam areas engaged and shot down two enemy fighters and two reconnaissance aircraft. Threeother enemy aircraft were shot down by Defiant fighters off the Dutch coast. A few unidentified aircraft approached the east coast and one Junkers SS was intercepted at a great height and driven down. Our reconnaissance aircraft engaged a Heinkel and shot it down in the sea oft the Dutch coast. The enemy’s losses of aircraft arc undoubtedly very large. It is imiwssible to assess them closely. Forty-five are known to have been shot down in combat by the H.A.F. since Saturday morning. It can safely be assumed that as many again have been destroyed or damaged. On all fronts our pilots and crews have pressed home their attacks relentlessly and with high courage. Losses have necessarily been incurred- in these hazardous and vital operations.. Altogether, 35 of our aircraft have so far failed to return. Some of them are known to have made forced landings in Belgium and France.