ATTACKS ON ENEMY SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 201, 22 May 1941, Page 8

ATTACKS ON ENEMY SHIPPING

Very Successful Week WIDESPREAD BRITISH ACTIVITY

(British Official Wireless.) (Received May 21, 7.5 p.m.)

RUGBY, May 20.

In widespread attacks on enemy shipping by units of the British Navy and the Royal Air Force during the week ended May 19 at least eight supply ships, totalling 40,500 tons, were destroyed or irreparably damaged. Four of these ships, totalling 17,500 tons, are known to have been, sunk and the remainder were burning so badly when last seen that it is hardly possible for them to have been anything but total losses. In addition, during a liighly-suecess-ful attack by aircraft of the Meet Air Arm on an enemy convoy in the Mediterranean, when a merchant ship ot 8000 tons blew up With a violent explosion, an enemy destroyer was hit and clouds of smoke were seen to pour from it. Daily attacks have been made on enemy shipping off the Dutch and French coasts and in harbours occupied by the enemy. Perhaps the most daring of these took place on May 14, when a single aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked a convoy of seven ships off the Dutch coast from a very low level, and in spite of heavy firing returned home safely after having torpedoed and sunk a 5000-ton supply vessel in the convoy. On the following day a convoy oil the Frisian Islands was attacked by aircraft of the Bomber Command and three supply ships of 5000, 4000 and 2000 tons respectively were bombed and left burning. SMALL-SCALE RAIDS Enemy Air Activity Over Britain LONDON, May 21. Small-scale enemy air attacks on Britain last night were mainly over the south-west coast. Some damage was done at one point in South Wales, and at another in East Anglia. An Admiralty communique says: “Last night a Heinkel 111 was engaged and shot down off the east, coast by H.M. trawlers Thomas Leeds and Stella Lenios. The enemy aircraft p'reviously had been under fire and damaged by the minesweeper Princess Elizabeth. No casualties or damage were sustained by our ships. COURAGEOUS AIRMAN Award Of Bar To D.F.C. (Received May 21, 7.5 p.m.» LONDON. May 20. A member of the Royal Air 1' orce, Acting-Flight Lieutenant Lloyd Watt Coleman, who gained the D.F.C. last. November, lias now been awarded a bar to the cross. The citation said: “Acting-Flight Lieutenant Coleman captained a bomber in a night attack on Benina aerodrome this month. He displayed great skill and tenacity in locating the target, which was eventually observed by a parachute flare. He carried out a most determined attack with bombs and machine-guns from heights varying from 3000 to 900 feet, destroying at least two Junkers 52 on the ground and damaging others.

“After returning from this operation. Acting-Flight Lieutenant Coleman was driving in a lorry when a plane coming in to land crashed and burst into flame. He immediately ran to another plane nearby, and though bombs and petro. tanks were exploding, be started the engine and taxied the plane to safety. He has continuously displayed outstanding courage ami devotion to duty.