R.A.F. Has Been Using Rockets for a Year

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 124, 29 May 1944, Page 5

R.A.F. Has Been Using Rockets for a Year

LONDON, May 26. Details of a year-old B.A.F. secret are revealed with an announcement that British planes have been attacking land targets, ships and U-boats with rockets fired from beneath their wings, says the Daily Express’s aviation writer. The Luftwaffe for months tried to mislead the world Into thinking that it alone used rocket-carrying planes. The enemy boasted of Messerschmitt 110’s and Junkers SB’s fitted with rockets, but the R.A.F. and the Fleet Air Arm long before had used a bigger and more accurate weapon, which is officially known as “R.P.” (rocket projectile). Four rockets are normally carried on the guide rodß under each wing, totalling eight per plane. They can be flred tu pairs, one from each wing, or in salvoes of eight simultaneously. Fitted to Hurricanes, Typhoons, Swordfish and Beaufighters, rockets have been used against the enemy’s shipping with considerable success. They have been equally effective in low-level land attacks against bridges, gun emplacements, radio stations and military buildings. Rocket-firing plane 3 also scored a success "in the Mediterranean. General battle experience has shown that the “R.P.’s” can be used as a primary weapon to keep down fire from flakships and damage flakships themselves.