R.A.F. DAY RAIDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 20 August 1941, Page 9

R.A.F. DAY RAIDS

PATROL SHIPS SUNK LILLE PLANT BOMBED CLASH OF FIGHTERS (Elec. Tel. Copyright-United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2.40 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 18. An Air Ministry communique quotes details of Royal Air Force offensive operations during Monday. “Blenheim aircraft of the Bomber Command,” it says, “bombed and sank three enemy patrol vessels off the Dutch coast. Two attacks on objectives in northern France were made by other Blenheims, which were accompanied by strong fighter escorts. An industrial plant at Lille and other targets were bombed. The fighter escorts destroyed three enemy fighters. Other fighters carried out a sweep over the coast of northern Brittany and attacked an aerodrome and enemy troops with cannon and ma-chine-gun fire. From these operations three of our aircraft are missing. Belgians Claim Victims Two Belgian pilots shot down two of the three ME 109's destroyed. Six Messerschmitts attacked the Belgian squadron when it was flying a little below 3000 ft. A dogfight followed. The ME 109’s were hit by cannon fire of one of the Belgians who had a month’s experience in these offensive operations. A little later the squadron saw several Messerschmitts below them and dived to attack. An older type of Messerschmitt was hit and shed large pieces of its structure when the guns of a second Belgian pilot held it in a sustained' burst of fire. Many fighter squadrons, which took part in this operation—the second in which bombers were escorted to attack targets in northern France during the day—saw considerable numbers of enemy aircraft, but reported on the whole that they were reluctant to engage. The third Messerschmitt destroyed was shot down by a Czech pilot. He saw it go spinning down in flames. He also saw an enemy fighter which he attacked spin down, but he lost sight of it in the clouds and therefore was only able to claim it as “probably destroyed.”