R.A.F. RAIDS SUCCEED

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1942, Page 6

R.A.F. RAIDS SUCCEED

MANY ENEMY PLANES Downed in France and Channel

[British Official Wireless] RUGBY, March 13

British fighters were over northern Frande in considerable strength this afternoon, it is learned in London A small! force of bombers was escorted to Hazel brouck, where the railway yards were bombed. None of the bombers is missing. The British fighters encountered a number of enemy fighters and destroyed eight. Five , British fighters are missing.

The Air Ministry News Service gives a further account of the action. It states that the Fighter Command, for the third time this week carried .out this afternoon a large-scale offensive sweep into occupied territory. A small force of bombers was escorted to attack the vital marshalling yard. Manv dogfights between the Spitfire squadrons and German fighters took place and although full details of the operation are not yet complete, it is known that at least eight enemy aircraft were destroyed.

One win" led by Group Caotam Beamish, D. 5.0., and Bar, D.F.C., went in over the target ahead of the bombers and swept the area almost clear of German fighters. Then, when the bombers with fighter escort arrived, the greatest part of the air fighting was over.

FINUCANE GETS TWO AEROPLANES.

This is the first operation in which Squadron-Leader Paddy Finucane, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and Double Bar, the famous British ace, has taken part since being wounded a week or two ago. He celebrated his return to the squadron by destroying two aeroplanes. Fuiiter details ’ show that the escorted bombers completed their task and were on their way back to the coast when about twenty Messerschmitt 109’s tried to attack them. The Polish escort wing shot three down in the dogfights that followed. ; In addition to the eight German fighters destroyed, several others were claimed as probables. Five British fighters are missing. KIEL AGAIN BOMBED. British bombers attacked Kiel and other objectives in North-west Germany last night. _Bombs were seen to burst in the shipyards at ■, Kiel, and many fires were left burning. ■ Mines were laid in enemy waters. Eight • British aircraft are missing. The German battleships, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, are sheltering in Kiel after their dash from Brest.'

There was no enemy air activity, over Britain to-day.

FURTHER DETAILS (Rec. 7.40) LONDON, March 14. The Air Ministry communique states: Our bombers were over Western Germany in force on Friday night, with Cologne as their main objective. A great weight of high explosive bombs was dropped. Many large fires were left burning. Aerodromes in the occupied territory were also attacked during the night, and mines were laid in enemy waters. Four of our bombers are missing. Another Air Ministry communique reports: Our fighters on Saturday afternoon carried out offensive operations on a large scale over northern France. A small force of bombers was escorted to Hazebrouck, ' where railway yards were bombed. Our fighters destroyed eight enemy fighters in combat, five during a preliminary sweep of the target area, and three more during an unsuccessful attack by the enemy on our . returning bombers. Five of our fighters are missing from these operations, and a

sixth is missing from an offensive patrol later in the day. CHANNEL FIGHTS TEN ENEMY PLANES DOWNED RUGBY, March 14. It is officially stated that, in a series of engagements over the Channel on Saturday morning, R.AF. fighters destroyed nine MElo9’s without loss to themselves. Another enemy fighter was destroyed in the course of another sweep in the afternoon, making ten enemy fighters destroyed without loss to R.A.F. fighters. One R.A.F. squadron encountered ten Messerschmitts, eight of which were destroyed in terrific dogfights in and out of clouds. Not a single British pilot received a scratch. A New Zealander, Pilot Officer 'Allen, shot down one enemy plane. A New Zealander, Sergeant Edwards, shared in the destruction of another.