Enemy Convoy Attacked By Bomber Command

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 103, 2 May 1941, Page 7

Enemy Convoy Attacked By Bomber Command

LONDON, April 30. In daylight yesterday, planes of the Bomber. Command, with a fighter escort, searched the French and Belgian coasts for enemy shipping (says a British Official Wireless message). They found a convoy near Ostend, and a ship of 2000 tons was set on lire. Another ship was claimed as damaged. The ships were also machine-gunned, and the guns of the largest ship are believed to have been disabled, as the guns ceased fire before the attack was over. Several Messerschmitt-109’s came in to drive off our aircraft, and, during a general engagement, at least one was damaged by one of our bombers. Near the Isle of Barnouic, south-west of the Channel Islands and a few miles from the coast of France, a supply ship of 1000 tons was successfully attacked by other aircraft from a very low level. Off the coast of Norway, attacks were made on escorted supply ships. Diving to under 200 feet, two aircraft dropped bombs on the largest ship, which was a vessel of between 4000 and 5000 tons, and immediately after the bombs exploded the ship was well alight. She made a quick turn towards land, and it is believed thtat she was severely damaged, perhaps beyond repair. In the course of yesterday’s daylight operations, attacks were made on other ships off the Norwegian coast. An Air Ministry communique states that, from these daylight operations, two R.A.F. bombers and one fighter are missing.