FIERCELY ATTACKED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 27 October 1941, Page 6

FIERCELY ATTACKED

ENEMY CONVOYS OFF HOLLAND VI SSI I S RECEIVE DIRECT HITS FIGHTER SWEEPS OVER FRANCE (Roc 2 p.m.) Rugby, Oct. 2(5. A Canadian squadron of the R.A.F. Coastal Command which lias since its formation been harassing German supply ships otT the Hutch coast made tierce attacks on convoys this morning, says the Air Ministry. The squadron Hew Lockheed Hudsons. Two direct hits were made on a very large ship in a heavily escorted 1 convoy off Tersehelling. A | medium sized ship in the same j convoy received a hit amidships and another ship in another | convoy off I.jmuiden was left with its stern on tire. The attacks were made in the early daylight hours. The Hudson which attacked the largest ship was piloted by a 21-year-old sergeant pilot from Toronto. His Hudson flew in through a storm of fire to drop its bombs and the flashes of two explosions were seen on the shin's stern. At the same time the rear-gunner raked the ship and the surrounding escort vessels with machine-gun fire. A small ship of the same convoy was attacked in a similar manner by bombs and machine-gunned by a second Hudson. As the Hudson flew away through a rainstorm the rear-gunner could just see the flash of an explosion amidships. A third aircraft patrolling off I.imuiden came across another German convoy equally fully escorted. The aircraft attacked with both bombs and bullets and a 'fire was started in the vessel’s stern and it was burning well by the time the aircraft left. R.A.F. fighters made a sweep over northern France this morning but few enemy aircraft were seen. Blenheims of the Bomber Command with fighter escort bombed enemy shipping off the Dutch coast this afternoon. Offensive patrols have been flown by our fighters over northern and north-western France during the day. Objectives in Dieppe Cherbourg and the Brest areas were attacked. From these operations two of our fighters are missing.—8.0. W.