R.A.F. OFFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1941, Page 6

R.A.F. OFFENSIVE

AROUND NORTH SEA

Targets in Four Countries

SHIPS ALSO BOMBED.

[Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, October 12.

The Air Ministry states: Bombers attacked Emden and other .objectives in north-west Germany on Saturday night. Large fires were left burning. Coastal Command aircraft attacked two enemy supply-ships off the Norwegian coast and the Frisian Islands. A fish oil factory in Norway was also bombed. Aircraft of the Fighter Command on offensive patrol attacked enemy aerodromes in France. From the night’s operations, one aircraft of the Coastal Command is missing. Beauforts. Hudsons, and Blenheim fighters of the Coastal Command attacked enemy shipping and land" targets on the Norwegian coast. From before midnight, until near dawn, aircraft crossed the North Sea and bombed and machine-gun-ned targets from Aalesund to Lister. Their successes included a mediumsized supply ship left in flames and two hits on a smaller vessel. A herring oil factorv was bombed, and aircraft and buildings on an aerodrome riddled with machine-gun bullets A’ large ship, heavily escorted, was found in Signe Fiord, bv .a low flying Hudson. Swinging round to bring the vessel into the moonlight, the Hudson dived through fire to 20 feet. The pilot had to pull up sharply to clear th P masts, but so low was the aircraft when the bombs were unloaded, that the second pilot heard

them thuddin? on to the heck. I’wo bombs .certainly scored hits, and it is believed that two others also found a mark. ' A few seconds after the Hudson flew over, there were a series of violent explosions amidships on the vessel. A column of white smoke | drifted up. followed by sheets of flame, and when the Hudson was 30 miles away, the ship could still be seen blazing fiercely. Later, a Beapfort patrolling the coast near Aalesund, located a smaller ship at anchor in the bav. A low level bombing attack was made, and two hits scored. Sparks and smoke rose up, and as the Beaufort left, the ship appeared to be sinking rapidly. A Hudson attacked an important herring oil factorv on the Norwegian coast. High exolosives and incendiaries were dropped, and a shower, of sparks first shot into the air. The pilot said: T saw next an enormous column of greyish matter go up. I think It must have been some kind of oil. It rose a hundred ffeet above the Hudson, and spread out like a gigantic Icelandic geyser. ’ Blenheim fighters made a rooftop machine-gun attack on the Lister aerodrome, taking the place completely by surprise. The first Blenheim over saw a twin-engined aircraft about to take off. It was taxiing across the tarmac, and the Blenheim swept low, sweeping the Nazi machine with bullets. The aircraft stopped suddenly as the bullets poured into it. ; Another Blenheim fired hundreds of rounds into the hangars and other buildings on the aerodrome.

The Admiralty states an enemy bomber attacked a convoy in the North Sea, and was shot down in

flames by the escort, H.M.S. Shear- < water. No damage or casualties were suffered by the ships. j Enemy aerodromes in Holland ana France were attacked on Saturday night by Havocs of the Fighter Com-mand—American-built bomber night fighters., At one aerodrome in Holland a load of incendiary bombs started one large fire and two smaller ones. At another Dutch aerodrome used b v the Luftwaffe a number of high explosive bombs were dropped and a large aircraft was seen to be on fire on the ground. Havocs then circled the. aerodiome and dropped more bombs round the blaze. Machines of the Fighter Command attacked targets in Northern France without meeting opposition. A military store and German troops and road transport were among the targets. Two pilots of the American Eagle Squadron hit transport b'arges on a canal, forcing German soldiers to abandon them. R.A.F. lighters carried out patrols over Northern France. German troops and transports and other targets were attacked from a low level with cannon and machine-gun fire. None of our aircraft is missing. A supply shm was hit when Blenheims of the Coastal Command, escorted by fighters, attacked shipping off the coast of Holland. No aircraft were lost. The people of Ramsgate this morning were given a thrilling grandstand demonstration of tl?e firing power of the new Hurricane. They saw at least two enemy ships destroyed during Hurricanes’ sweep over the Channel. Visibility was so good that the enemy convoy could be seen travelling down the French coast from th P direction of Dunkirk. The Hurricanes, some carrying tour cannons and others ,12 machine-guns, 'dived to attack. Almost immediately, one ship blew up. The Hurricanes then made a mass attack on a larger ship, which was set on fire and then exploded, leaving a pall of smoke hanging over the spot. LONDON, October 12:

An Air Ministry communique states: “R.A.F lighters carried out a number of patrols over Northern France during Saturday. German troops and transport and other targets were attacked from low level with cannon and machine-gun fire. None of our aircraft is missing.”

FURTHER RAIDS IN GERMANY.

8.0.W. RUGBY, October 13. R.A.F, planes attacked targets in Bavaria, the Rhineland, and northwest Germany on Sunday night.

SUNDAY NIGHT RAIDS.

LONDON, October 12. The Air Ministry . states: Enemy activity over the country on Saturday night was on a small scale. Bombs were dropped at a point in the Eastern area of England. Three were killed. At one point in South Wales, there was a small number of casualties. The damage was not large. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed during the night. One of these collided with an R.A.F. plane, which was also destroyed. R.A.F bombers attacked targets in North-west Germany on Saturday night. ' SUNDAY NIGHT ENEMY RAIDS. (Rec. 11.30). RUGBY. October 13. ; The official communique states: ‘‘Enemy air 'activity on Sunday night over Britain was again on a small scale. Bombs were dropped at sevI eral points in northern England and eastern England. Damage was caused at places in the north, where there

also were some casualties, including a small number of killed.” Midlands Attacked (Rec. 12.20.) LONDON, October 13. The Berlin News Agency states that the Luftwaffe, on Sunday night attacked war objectives in the Midlands. . . „ . „ Enemy air activity on Sunday night was on a small scale, says tne Air Ministry. “Bombs were dropped at several points in Northern and Eastern England, damage being caused in places in the north, where there also were some casualties, including a small number killed. Little damage was done elsewhere. One enemy ’plane was destroyed. WANGANUI D.F.C’s. P.A. WANGANUI. October 13. Two Wanganui airmen, Squadron Leader Derek Ward and Squadron Leader Douglas Morrish, have received the D.F.C. and the Air Force Cross respectively, according to official cablegrams received to-day. Ward .has been in the fighting throughout the war, and is now commander in the _Middle East, of a squadron known as Cobber Kain’s. Morrish has been instructor at a flying school in North England, since shortly after the outbreak of the war, and a large number of Ne.w Zealanders have passed through his hands.