ENEMY CONVOYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24698, 29 August 1941, Page 6

ENEMY CONVOYS

ATTACKED IN DAYLIGHT SEVERAL VESSELS HIT ONE DEFINITELY SUNK , , - . RUGBY, Aut. 27. A vivid description of yesterday,’a R.A.F. operations is given by the Air Ministry News Service. Convoys were attacked in daylight by Blenheims of the Bomber Command. The very-well-protected first convoy was found off the German Frisian Islands soon after noon by Blenheims flying without a fighter escort. There were six anti-aircraft ships on guard, and overhead a standing patrol of ME 100’s circling at about 1000 ft. Against this formidable protection the Blenheims flew in formation mast-high. The first Blenheim attacked a freighter

and the crew believed that they got a hit on the after pant of the ship, but they could not see the explosion of the bombs because the captain of the aircraft had to make a sharp turn to avoid hitting the ship’s mast. Another Blenheim then attacked the freighter, and bombs fell amidships. Flames and black smoke leaped; 60ft in the air. Other crews saw the freighter burning, and bombed and machine-gunned both the convoy and the escort. . - Meanwhile the ME 100’s peeled off” and came down to engage the Blenheims. One flight of bombers ■stayed in tight formation and took evasive action, as a section, while the gunners kept up a concentrated fire on the enemy. One gunner alone fired 1500 rounds. He saw pieces fall off an ME 100. ■ The anti-aircraft'ships put up a fierce defence, and one bomber which flew through the thick barrage was seen to be hit and to dive finto the sea. About an hour later Blenheims with a, fighter escort found a larger convoy off the Dutch coast. There were two paralleMines of merchant ships staggering in line astern, with anti-aircraft ships at the four corners Of the ‘ convoy and two in the middle on the seaward side. Guns on shore reinforced the barrage. Enemy fighters were seen, but they stood off and did not engage either the'; Blenheims or their escorts. A Blenhejbn attacked one of thg largest ships of the convoy from /50ft, and a bomb blew off all the superstructure from amidships, and at once black smoke covered the

whole ship. Another Blenheim at* *■ tacked, and the crew saw the ship break up; It sank and left np tra'ce. v All the smoke had gone, and no • wreckage was left oh the water. Four other ships were hit. After a bomb burst on one of them, flames belched from the funnel, and half a minute later there - were, clouds of steam .which blanketed the flames. : ; Another larger ship was; left in flames. . ....