R.A.F. OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1942, Page 4

R.A.F. OFFENSIVE

, BOMBS ON MANNHEIM. RUGBY, February 16. The Air Ministry states: To attack Mannheim on Saturday night, Bomber Command planes had to fly through - thick clouds. One pilot said: “We could just see searchlights pointing about 'underneath us like dim lights s at the bottom of the sea.” But there were occasional breaks in the clouds i' and over Mannheim several crews saw the flashes of their bombs as they exL ’ ploded. The glow of fires could also . be seen. Though the number of aircraft taking part was not particularly f large, the force included bombers of the latest type. [’ ACTIVITY OVER BRITAIN. RUGBY, February 16. An official Air Ministry communi- - que states: During Sunday night there was slight enemy activity over the ’ coastal areas in the north-east of Eng- < land and the south-east of Scotland. Bombs which were dropped killed a - small number of people. Some damage was done to houses. One enemy aircraft was destroyed. ENEMY BOMBER DESTROYED. RUGBY, February 16. The Bomber Command last night attacked the docks at St. Nazaire. I The Coastal Command yesterday 1 bombed an enemy supply-ship off the Norwegian coast. No aircraft is missing from these operations. t The crew of a bomber reported s missing after the attack on Mann- • heim ,on Saturday night, have been ) rescued from the sea. An enemy bomber was destroyed off the south-west coast of England ’ this morning. NEW BRITISH FIGHTER. LONDON, February 16. “The Times” reports: Mr. Balfour, 1 Under-Secretary for Air, piloted . a : Typhoon, which fully confirmed its - earlier promise. The plane climbed ■ at a snlendid pace, and its speed ’ showed it to be undoubtedly the fast- : est fighter Britain has produced. Mr. ■ Balfour flies each new type. He has ■ now tried out a Spitfire, a Hurricane, ; a Whirlwind and a Typhoon. He is 44 years old, and has been a pilot since 1915. ■ INVASIONEXERCISES. 1 (Recd. 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16. i The “Evening Standard” says that the R.A.F. operating from home bases, . is beginning large-scale special train- . ing to support the Army, including • practice attacks against columns of i troops, and anti-tank invasion exercises.