NAVAL PLANES SCORE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1942, Page 5

NAVAL PLANES SCORE

ITALIAN FLEET ATTACKED TWO CRUISERS DAMAGED RUGBY, February 17. An R.A.F. Middle East communique says: Naval aircraft carried out a successful attack on a strong formation of the Italian Fleet in the Central Mediterranean, on Sunday night. Hits with torpedoes were scored -on two cruisers and a destroyer, and another destroyer was probably hit. One of the cruisers was well ablaze at the stern shortly after the attack. In the battle area in Cyrenaica, our fighters were again active throughout Monday. Enemy aircraft continued their raids on Malta during the same day, some damage being caused. Four of our aircraft are missing, but one bomber crew and a fighter pilot are safe. RAID ON ENEMY CONVOY RUGBY, February 17. An Air Ministry communique states: The Bomber Command last night attacked ports in north-west Germany and airfields in Holland. Hurricane bombers- of the Fighter Command attacked shipping off the French coast, damaging at least one enemy patrol vessel. The Coastal Command yesterday attacked a small convoy in the Bay of Biscay. Three small ships were hit, two being sunk and a third left down by the bows. One Bomber Command plane and one Coastal Command plane are missing. ENEMY FIGHTER LOST. RUGBY, February 17. The Air Ministry states: A Hudson plane of the Coastal Command attacked an enemy convoy off the Norwegian coast to-day. Two ships were hit by bombs. Enemy shipping was also attacked off the Dutch coast, but it was impossible to observe the results. A Blenheim fighter on patrol destroyed an enemy fighter near the coast of Norway. No aircraft is missing from these operations.

OVER ENGLISH COAST. RUGBY, February 17. There was activity by enemy aircraft near the east coast of England, to-day. Bombs were dropped at two points in East Anglia, but caused no casualties and only slight damage. LULL AFMALTA. RUGBY, February 17. A Malta message states: No bombs have been dropped since Monday, when there was slight damage done to civilian property, and a few casualties were caused.

R.A.F. RESCUE LAUNCHES.

COMMANDER DECORATED.

RUGBY, February 17

The first R.A.F. officer in this war to get the Distinguished Service Cross —the naval equivalent of the Military Cross —received his decoration from the King at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace, recently. He is Flight Lieutenant R. F. L. Coates, officer commanding the R.A.F. highspeed launch base at Dover. He has been decorated for his continued zealous service during the seven months he has been in command of R.A.F. and sea rescue launches. During that time, R.A.F. high-speed launches at Dover, and the Navy, acting in close co-operation, rescued a large number of pilots and air crews, both Allied and enemy. It was frequently necessary for the rescue craft to brave the dangers of mine-fields and enemy surface vessels and aircraft, in their task.