R.A.F. ACTIVITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 November 1939, Page 7

R.A.F. ACTIVITY

FLIGHTS OVER GERMANY

IMPORTANT RESULTS SECURED

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

(Received November 3, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, November 2.

Satisfaction is expressed in informal quarters regarding the activities of the Royal Air Force over Germany since the war began, and great importance is attached to the information obtained concerning German airfields, guns, ’ methods of camouflage, and other matters.

During the first three weeks, many flights were carried out over various parts of Germany, and nearly 20,000,000 pamphlets were dropped. During l these “pamphlet” raids, only occasional resistance by German fighters was encountered. The purpose of these flights was not confined to the dropping of pamphlets. Reconnaissance of enemy positions was constantly undertaken, and valuable experience was gained of night and day flying conditions over enemy territory.' More recently, the flights have been purely of a reconnaissance nature, and, in twenty such flights during the past two months, it has been possible to acquire a very complete picture of the whole of the Siegfried Line, of enemy air bases, and other valuable military and strategical objectives in North-West Germany. Twice, the Royal Air Force has been over Berlin, and a number of other large German cities have been flown over. No bombs were dropped during these flights. In encounters with enemy aircraft, several have been shot down. The British aircraft losses, though no official total has been declared, are known to be small. During September and October, German aeroplane losses were 22 accounted for by the Royal Air Force, eight by the Navy, and one by anti-aircraft gunfire, and two by other causes. The last two refer to the German bombers which recently crashed in Danish territory, after an attack on a British cruiser squadron was repulsed. Thesefigures may be on the conservative side, as account is taken only of cases where full and complete proof of the destruction of German planes has been obtained. Other aircraft may well have been crippled after encountering British anti-aircraft or fighter gunfire, and have been forced down before reaching the German air bases.

AWARDS FOR GALLANI RY

KING DECORATES OFFICERS

(Recd. November 3. 11.20 a.m.) LONDON. November 2.

Four Royal Air Force officers and one Sergeant-Pilot stood in a hangar, somewhere in England, while His Majesty pinned on their decorations for gallantry on active service. Their ages ranged from 21 to 26 years. The Distinguished Flying Cross was conferred upon Acting-Flight Lieutenants T. M. Smith, J. Barrett, K. C. Doran, and Flying-Officer A. McPherson, and the Distinguished Flying Medal upon Sergeant-Pilot W. Willits. Smith and Barrett rescued the crew of the Kensington Court. Doran led a successful attack on an enemy cruiser in September.. McPherson, 21, carried out a dangerous reconnaissance, resulting in a successful attack on enemy naval forces. Willits saved the plane and crew when the pilot was shot in the head, and collapsed at the controls, during an air combat. He moved the body, obtained control at a low altitude, and navigated the machine 140 miles to the base. The ceremony marked the end of His Majesty’s visit to the air stations in Northern England and Midlands, in which he inspected the coastal, bomber, and fighter commands, saw pilots engaged in war activity, heard stories of dangerous flights over enemy territory, and engagements with enemy planes.

THRILLING STORIES TOLD

An hour before His Majesty arrived at one station, the personnel of a reconnaissance flight over South Germany on October 27, arrived. The men, who bore scars, burns and blisters. told their stories simply and earnestly, after which the King commented, “I am proud to have met such men.”

The airmen described how the engine ' of one machine failed owing to ice and snow conditions. The pilot ordered the crew to jump. He saw three go, but there was no reply from the gunner. He assumed, he had already escaped. The pilot jumped, and the machine crashed on a hillside. The gunner was still trapped in the cockpit, with loose wire entangled round his neck, but he fought his way from the blazing machine. The men, who made their way separately through the night, were reunited in a. little village.

During the same raid the engine of another machine caught fire. Two gunners became senseless with the cold. The pilot made a forced landing, but struck some tree-tops and the machine caught tire. Assisted by other members of the crew, the pilot dragged the gunners out. memorised and then burnt the secret papers, and eventually reached the base.