R.A.F. Again Over North France

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 188, 9 August 1941, Page 7

R.A.F. Again Over North France

RUGBY, Aug. 7. Blenheim aircraft of the Bomber Command, escorted >by fighters, carried out two offensive operations over Northern France to-day, say’s an Air Ministry communique. Bombs were d.f>pped on a German aerodrome near St. Umer and on enemy shipping and other targets near Graveliues. None of the bombers is missing.

In the course of these operations, at least four enemy iignters vfcre destroyed. Ten of the escorting British fighters are missing.

A German supply ship attempting to Blip northwards along the Norwegian coast was torpedoed early on Thursday morning by a Beaufort aircraft of the Coastal Command. Flying through low cloud and rain, the Beaufort pilot sighted the ship only when it was less than 1000 yards away. He dropped his torpedo and banked steeply. The gunner in the Beaufort’s rear turret saw the torpedo run on its course ana hit the vessel amidships.

A daring low-level ooinbing attack was made on Mandel aeroarome, in {Southern Norway, by another Beaufort. The Germans were taken completely by surprise and the flare-path remained lit until the Beaufort was right overhead.

Details of the British air operations announced in an earlier communique were given by the Air Ministry News {Service. Fighter Command pilots carried out a series of offensive operations lasting from early morning until late in the evening. Twice they escorted formations of bombers to targets and screened them from enemy lighters. All the bombers returned safely.

There were many Messerschmitts in the sky looking for stragglers to pounce upon but the main formations of oiir lighters were left alone. Clouds as well as the hiding Messerschmitts waiting to attack in many cases also prevented the British pilots seeing the fate of the enemy fighters they engaged. For this reason the destruction of only four enemy aircraft could be confirmed though many others were damaged and several of them possibly destroyed. The clouds were, however, a blessing to one wing commander. He had shot at a Messerschmitt and was following it down when another Messerschmitt attacked and he had to dive into a cloud to evade him. As ho came out below the cloud ho was just in time to see the first Messerschmitt go into the ground.