R.A.F. COUP

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1941, Page 3

R.A.F. COUP

Against Big German Convoy FOUR VESSELS PROBABLY SUNK. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON,'JuIy 19. Another notable success in the R.A.F. offensive against German communications and supplies, was scored on Saturday when Blenheim planes of the Bomber Command carried out what is officially, described as a very successful attack on an enemy convoy, which was escorted by anti-aircraft ships off the Dutch coast. Four ships of the convoy probably were destroyed. Three or them, each of about six thousand tons, were set on lire. A fourth, of about four thousand tons, blew up after being hit astern. A further communique states: Heavy bombers, escorted by fighters, bombed docks in Dunkirk on Saturday afternoon. Four enemy lighter planes were destroyed by 'the escort. From all these operations, three oi our bomber planes and two lighter planes are missing. “The enemy convoy off tlie Dutch coast was so heavily escorted by flagships that they almost equalled the number of the vessels which they escorted. The fact of the convoy nevertheless being broken up, and lour of the largest vessels probably sunk, is a tribute to the courage and daring with which the attack was delivered. The vessel which blew up received at least four direct hits. A Blenheim plane which hit one of the others, approached almost at sea level through violent, anti-air-craft lire.

Second Convoy Bombed TWO SHIPS SET AFIRE. (Rec. 12.50). LONDON, July 20. Royal Air Force ’planes took heavy toll of the enemy’s coastal shipping on Saturday. Eight ships, totalling forty-eight 'thousand tons, were badly damaged, and probably destroyed. Details of the first operation have already been announced. Seven ships in a second convoy were attacked off Norderney Island. A ten-thousand ton tanker was hit, and left blazing fiercely. A six thousand ton merchantman was directly hit four times, and set on lire. Her bridge was blown away. Two other merchantmen, one of eight thousand tons and one of two thousand tons, were repeatedly hit and left burning. None of oui’ planes is missing from this operation. The R.A.F. on Saturday night again pounded Hanover, and caused large nres, which were visible for nines. Rhineland Raiding CHANNEL AND i-KtNCH SWEEPS. KULGBY, July 18. An Air Ministry communique states:— industrial areas at Cologne and elsewhere in the Rhineland were attacked last nignt. Fires were started ana tnougn tne weatner made it difncuit to ooserve many bombs were seen to hit tne targets. The coastal Command attacked shipping at St. Nazaire. one snip oi aooui abbU tons was seen to be nit. Dunng offensive patrols by tne Fighter Command, attacks were maae on enemy aerodromes in occupiea territory. One aircraft of the Coastal Command is missmg. Our fighters were again over France m daylight sweeps. iNine enemy lighters were snot uown. Six Britisn lighters are missing, but tne pilot of one is safe. Continuous air assault on shipping was tne keynote of tne official messages issuea to-night. The' Air Ministry communique states that despite unfavourable weather over tne Straits of Dover to-aay, tne R.A.B. continued to harass enemy shipping off the rTench coast. One enemy supply ship oi about 6UOO tons, escorted ov patrol vessels and lighters, wp.s attacked by our bombers off Dunkirk. Several direct hits on the sh.p, were obtained. Later, a reconnaissance showed a ship of corresponding tonnage was aground near Dunkirk. : Fighters which escorted our bomb- ( ers shot down one enemy lighter. Two of our bombers and one ..ghter are missing. The Air Ministry’s service says: it was a Beaufort aircraft, which scored a hit on the vessel anchored in the roads at St. Nazaire. As lie approached the target the pilot saw several ships lying in the roads protected by fierce A.A. barrage. He selected a 400-ton vessel and dived beneath the curtain or flak to make his attack from mast high, turning sharply on to the ship from her port beam. The Beaufort's crew saw one stick of bombs burst directly on the ship. Another fell just short of her. As the aircraft flew aw- the rear gunner opened fire and shot out tne searchlight. A detailed description of the Coastal Command raid, given by tne Air Ministry News Service, says that a tanker of 6000 tons and a supply ship of 3500 tons were hit and almost certainly sunk. Two more supply ships, each of 2000 tons, were straddled with sticks of bombs and probably damaged. «> Torpedo-carrying Beaufort aircraft attacked the tanker off the French coast in the English Channel, one had five flak ships spread around her. The Beauforts found the convoy just as daylight was fadincr. mere was no cloud cover and the lire put up by the escort ships was intense. mi the Beauforts came back with holes in them but no serious damage was done and there were no casualties. The aircraft launched torpedoes from close range. One was seen to strike the tanker near the foremast and a column of smoke sprang into the air. Tne supply ship of 3,500 tons was found at the entrance to a fjord north of Bergen bv a Hudson bomber patrolling the Norwegian coast. The squadron leader piloting- the aircraft first say the shin’s wake and then the ship herself, making out Io sea. He dived Io a height which just enabled him to clear the top oi the ships masts and released a slick of heavy bombs with sightly delated action. “I saw a bomb burst on the ship,’ the rear gunner later reported. “Immediately there was a violent explosion from the after hold and flames shot up.” The crew of the Hudson however, saw a second bomb enter the water so close to the side of the vessel that it must have done severe damage. They think it may have acted like a torpedo and holed the I ship below water. When the antiaircraft fire died down, the Hudson returned to the ship and saw her, enveloped in flatnes and down at tnei stern. As the aircraft flew away the ship was well on fire and travelling in circles. A second force of Beauforts attacked two 2,000-ton supply ships, which were anchored 150 yards apart c.t St. Nazaire. Several sticks of bombs were laid across the position 1 from a low level, but fierce opposition prevented the crews observing! the exact results. Two bombs of one stick, however, were seen to strike the waler direct)- between the ships.