PATROL FLIGHTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20186, 2 March 1940, Page 5

PATROL FLIGHTS

ROYAL AIR FORCE AGAIN OVER GERMANY HOPS OF TEN HOURS BERLIN SEARCHLIGHTS NO FIGHTER OPPOSITION (Elite. Ti'l. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Rec. Mar. 2, 11.15 a.in.) LONDON, Mar. 1. The Air Ministry reports that in the course of the night the Royal Air Force carried out a series of successtul patrols and reconnaissance flights over enemy territory, including the standing patrol of the Frisian Islands for the purpose of restricting the activities of enemy minelaying machines and reconnaissance patrols over Baltic ports, Kiel and Lubeck. The British machines reconnoitred a number of important towns of north-west Germany, including Hamburg, Bremen and Hanover and the ports of Cuxhnven and Brunsbuttel in the Heligoland Bight. The aeroplanes again penetrated central Germany and reached Berlin. It is reported further that in the early hours of the morning the Aircraft Bomber Command carried out one of the most extensive series of reconnaissance raids over Germany since the .outbreak of the war. A number of aircraft participated and nc enemy opposition from either the air or the ground was encountered, all planes returning to their bases after flights ranging from six to nearly 10 hours. Junction Identified. Through a gap in the clouds and by the light of the moon the captain of one of the aircraft was able to identify an important railway junction 17 miles south of Berlin by the shape of the railway line and an adjoining canal. Three parachute flares were dropped over the junction and, having established the position, the pilot continued on his course to Berlin. A number of searchlights came into action as the aircraft approached the city. No enemy fighters were seen and the ground batteries did not open fire. Its mission accomplished, the aircraft returned to the base after a flight of close on 10 hours, during which the temperature was never above minus 28 degrees centigrade. The Royal Air Force flights over Germany now number more than 30.

CLAIMS IN BERLIN (Reed. March 2, 11.40 a.m.) BERLIN, March I.' The German Air Force reconnoitred over eastern France and the North Sea.