FIRST REAL ACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 111, 11 May 1940, Page 12

FIRST REAL ACTION

R.A.F; IN FRANCE

MANY GERMAN PLANES SHOT DOWN

QUICK PUNISHMENT

ANGLO-FRENCH CO-OPERA-TION

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

(Received May 11, 2.15 p.m.) t • ■

.. LONDON, May 10,

Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force states that R.A.F. bombers and fighters, co-operating with the 8.E.F., today attacked German troops on the march. The enemy lost many planes during these operations, apart from machines shot down in other engagements. It was the R.A.F.'s first day of real action, and the activity ranged from Holland to France. At least 30 German planes were shot down by Allied planes over France alone. It is estimated that German raids throughout France during the day caused 40 deaths.

Quick and severe punishment met German squadrons which attempted to bomb aerodromes and other objectives in the zone of the R.A.F. advanced striking force. • The main German attack came soon after dawn. It was effectively frustrated by smooth and rapid co-opera-tion between the British and French Air Forces and the ground defences. The German raiding flights crossed the frontier at a great height, coming down low before making actual attacks. Everything considered, the results were negligible and no serious damage _or casualties were caused at any of the British aerodromes. Most of the bombs were of small size. The enemy everywhere met intense anti-aircraft fire, and British and French machines engaged j the raiders. . • A series of combats occurred over a wide area between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. The German planes generally were more numerous, but the enterprise and daring of the Allied pilots counterbalanced the odds. _•• . Five Dornier machines were shot down in the early part of the mornmg, and four badly damaged. One patrol of Hurricanes later claimed three lighting continued all day, resulting in further German losses. French officials estimate that at.least a thousand German Planes were over Belgium and Holland, France, and Luxemburg during the day.