R.A.F. PRAISED

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1940, Page 7

R.A.F. PRAISED

For Work in Norway

[British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, April 15.

The Air Ministry announced: Reconnaissance off the Norwegian coast has continued throughout, giving a most-valuable service. Here it is too, that enemy transports and ammunition ships have been attacked. At the same time as aircraft of the coastal command were scouring the northern seas to locate those German naval vessels which thus far had escaped destruction by the Royal Navy, longrange fighters were attacking aerodromes in southern Norway, to which the invader had been carrying troop reinforcements. Much damage has been done to assembled enemy aircraft, and successful attacks have been made on the enemy seaplanes at anchor in the fiords. So far, there has been no opportunity for a direct air attack against enemy air transports. These are convoyed by day. Despite unfavourable weather conditions, the Stavanger aerodrome has again been bombed. Several {sections of R.A.F. aircraft were engaged, all of which returned safely.

The pilot of one of the British aircraft engaged in the latest attack on Stavanger" reported seeing a sudden red glow, apparently caused by a big explosion. The air, he added, “was simply alive with blue and orange searchlights, rockets and shells which burst into groups of four bluish-white stars. We sailed through it all, and dropped our bombs right on the target. My rear-gunner sprayed bullets down the beam of one searchlight which picked us up. The light went out at once, and remained out.” At least two German seaplanes were sunk at Stavanger on Monday, when the aeroplane and seaplane base was again raided by Blenheims. The seaplanes were at their moorings, when they were machine-gun-ned by British aircraft. Shortly afterwards, our pilots saw them founder. The Blenheims also dropped heavy bombs on Stavanger aerodrome adding to the damage done in previous raids. ‘ The attack was made in a snowstorm. The British aircraft had also to fly through cloud and rainstorms for a large part of the North Sea crossing. Official communiques issued by the Air Ministry during last week did not convey the full extent of the work of the R.A.F. Reconnaissances have been conducted day and night, and every Norwegian fiord which could possibly shelter enemy craft has been examined. While the Navy has been exerting itself, with splendid results already known in the northernmost parts of the Norwegian coast, it is to the south of Bergen that patrols of the R.A.F. and the Fleet Air Arm have given their attention. The Germans have large numbers of fighters > and would have to be engaged by numbers approaching their own, but which would be operating at many times the distance from their bases of the German machines. For the present, more fruitful employment is available for the air forces employed on the Allied side, for operations in the north. R.A.F. reconnaissance flights over northern Germany are, of course, pro ceeding as usual, and valuable information has been brought back from recent flights. While no information is yet available, it may be assumed that R.A.F. patrols co-operated in the landings effected by British forces. It is understood that the losses suffered by the R.A.F. in these operations over Norway, at a great distance from the home bases, have been surprisingly low;, when all the relevant factors are taken into account. Another R.A.F. Raid ON STAVANGER. (Received April 16, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. The Royal Air Force, in a raid on Stavanger, sank at least two German seaplanes at their moorings, and dropped heavy bombs on the aerodrome, adding to previous damage. The attack occurred in a after a journey through clouds and rainstorms.