MANY SUCCESSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 112, 13 May 1940, Page 10

MANY SUCCESSES

R.A.F. IN ACTION

HARASSING THE ENEMY

ATTACKS ON TROOPS

OPERATIONS REVIEWED

(British Official Wireless.) (Received May 13, 2.15 p.m.) 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 r tb 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 sixteen troopcarriers observed on one landing ground alone were seen to be damaged. In spite of intense antiaircraft and fighter opposition, the communications of the large German mechanised forces now advancing in Belgium and Luxemburg have been dislocated by the destruction of both! road bridges at Maastricht. Rail-1 way communications have also been! interrupted at that point and roads I destroyed. Important road and rail-! way damage has also been caused in Germany between the Rhine and the Dutch frontier, including damage to supply trains and a railway station. It is noticeable that the enemy is now finding it necessary to employ much larger fighter patrols. ' '

Some of our lighters 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. Three other enemy aircraft were shot down by Defiant fighters off the Dutch* coast. A few unidentified aircraft approached the east coast and one Junkers 88 was intercepted at a great height and driven down. Our reconnaissance aircraft "engaged a Heinkel and shot it down in the sea off the Dutch coast.

The enemy's losses of aircraft are undoubtedly very large. It is imppssible to assess them closely. Fortyfive are known to have been shot down in combat by the R.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 s them are known to have made forced landings in Belgium and France.