AIR OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24009, 5 July 1941, Page 11

AIR OFFENSIVE

TWO MORE SWEEPS FIGHTS OVER FRANCE 11 GERMANS SHOT DOWN (Heed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 4 An Air Ministry communique states that two offensive sweeps over Northern France were carried out by squadrons of British fighters on Thursday. Eleven enemy fighters were shot down, and six of our fighters are missing.

Bombers, which also took part in the operations, attacked objectives in the Hazebrouck-St. Omer area. One bomber is missing.

Details of the first offensive sweep carried out on Thursday morning are given by the Air Ministry news service, which states that Messerschmitts were encountered, and in a dog-fight which followed five were shot down and others damaged. The dog-fight invoh'ed formations of eight and 12 Messerschmitts.

The sergeant-pilot who on Wednesday got a "double," on Thursday tackled eight Messerschmitts singlehanded, and damaged one. Another pilot shot off the port wing of a Messerschmitt with one burst, and another left his victim a mass of burning wreckage on the ground. Three Royal Air Force fighters are missing from this operation.

Figures from official communiques reveal British and enemy aircraft losses for .Tune. Over Britain and British coastal waters the enemy lost 52 and Britain two. Over Germany and enemyoccupied territory, the enemy lost 183, and Britain 160. Over all Mediterranean fronts the enemy lost 225, and Britain (13. in addition 12 enemy aeroplanes were destroyed at sea. Totals: Enemy 472, Britain 225. It was during this period that fighter sweeps and the daylight bombing of occupied territory assumed a more intense form. In spite of this the majority of British losses over Germany and occupied territory occurred during night raids, when heavier and more concentrated attacks than ever before were made, reflecting the growing power of British bomber forces.

ENEMY SHIPPING FREQUENT AIR ATTACKS HEAVY LOSS AND DAMAGE LONDON, July 3 Attacks on enemy shipping at sea, in dock and on slipways continue, and during the week ended June 30 heavy loss and damage to enemy shipping was reported from the Mediterranean area. The concentration of heavy air attacks on harbour ports and naval bases in north-west Germany and enemyoccupied countries is a most noteworthy feature of the week. The naval base at Kiel has been the most regular objective of the Bomber and Coastal Commands, and the Fleet Air Arm operated with the Coastal Command. Bremen, Emden. Wilhelmshaven, Cuxhaven, Sylt, Oldenburg, Hamburg, Den Helder, Dunkirk, and Boulogne have come in for their share of punishment. Off the coast of Syria full support lias been given to British and Free French troops operating against the Vichy forces, and the harbours of Beirut and Tripoli, in Syria, have been frequently bombed with good effect. The bombing of the harbour of Benghazi has become almost a routine exercise for the Royal Air Force, and there were reports of at least six raids there during the week. Direct hits were observed on the moles and numerous fires were started. A convoy of merchant vessels was attacked off the south coast of Italy by the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm, and three vessels, totalling 60,000 tons, received direct hits, two from torpedoes and one from a bomb. A ship that wns acting as a supply and prison ship for a German raider was intercepted and the prisoners rescued. A submarine sunk an enemy tanker of about 7000 tons and a supply ship of 500 tons. AUSTRALIAN V.C. FIRST OF PRESENT WAR HEROIC DEEDS AT TOBRUK LONDON. July 4 The heroic deeds of a member of the Australian military fore# at Tobruk, John' Hurst Edmondson, who subsequently died of wounds, have led to the award of the Victoria Cross, the first to be won in the present war by an Australian soldier.

Although wounded in a bayonet attack, he continued to advance under heavy fire and killed a German with his bayonet. Ho then saw an officer being attacked by two Germans and he went to his assistance. He killed both the Germans. The Victoria Cross has also been awarded to another member of the Indian Army who died from wounds received in leading an attack against enemy positions at Keren. So far 17 V.C.'s have been awarded. Four have been awarded to the Navy, five to tlie Army, five to the lloyal Air Force, two to the Indian Army, and one to the Australian military forces.