PRAISE OF FEAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20568, 30 May 1941, Page 5

PRAISE OF FEAT

BISMARCK SINKING FREE FRENCH MESSAGE STORY OF SEARCH CATALINA’S LONG FLIGHT (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 10 a.m. RUGBY, May 29. A message received by the Admiralty from the Admiral commanding the Free French Naval Forces states: "In the name of the Free French, I offer my heartiest congratulations for the splendid achievement of the Royal Navy in sinking the Bismarck.” The Admiralty has sent congratulations to the Air Office Commanding-in-Chief of the Coastal Command in a message stating: “The Admiralty wishes to gratefully acknowledge the part played by reconnaissance of forces under your command, which contributed in a large measure to the successful outcome of the recent operations.” The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Coastal Command replied: “Your message is very much appreciated and has been repeated to all concerned. It was a great hunt and we are eager and ready for more." The captain of- the Catalina flyingboat which found the Bismarck on the morning of May 26, during 18 hours of continuous reconnaissance flight, broadcast a thrilling description of the successful mission. Dark Shape Seen "We left our base at 3.30 a.m. an 4 got to the area we had to search at 9.45,” he said. “About an hour later we saw a dark shape ahead in the mist. There was a 40-knot wind blowing and heavy seas running. “At first we were not sure it was the enemy battleship, so altered course and went up to about 3500 ft. into the clouds and circled. Wcthought we were near the stern when the clouds ended and wc were right above her. “The first we knew was a couple of puffs of smoke just outside the cockpit window and a devil of a lot of noise, and then we were surrounded by dark, brownish-black smoke as she popped off at us with everything she had.

“She was supposed to have had only eight anti-aircraft guns, but fire syas coming from more than eight places — in fact, she looked just one big flash. Explosions threw the flying boat about and we could hear bits of shrapnel hit the hull. Luckily only a few penetrated.

“I grabbed a bit of paper and wrote a message and gave it to the wireless operator. Shrapnel Holes Plugged

“When we got away a bit we cruised round while we inspected the damage. There were about half a dozen holes and a rigger stopped them with rubber plugs, and we went back to shadow the Bismarck.

“There we met another Catalina. She had been searching the area north of us when she intercepted our signals and closed.

“We landed after 9.30 p.m., after flying for just over 18 hours. One of our Catalinas during this operation set up a new record for the Coastal Command of 27 hours on continuous reconnaissance.”

A message from Stockholm quotes the Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper Tidningen, who says that the Bismarck’s complement was about 2000.