FLYING-BOATS IN ACTION

Southland Times, Issue 24114, 1 May 1940, Page 7

FLYING-BOATS IN ACTION

German Submarine Destroyed MESSERSCHMITT 110 SHOT DOWN (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 30, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 29. A Short Sunderland flying-boat sank a U-boat which was lying close inshore in a Norwegian fiord. The first bomb burst just above the submarine and the second almost underneath, after which there was an explosion, leaving only a patch of oil. The Air Ministry announces that a Short Sunderland flying-boat of the Coastal Command, recently encountered and shot down a Messerschmitt 110 fighter. If the bombing by the German Junker 88 over a Norwegian fiord had been more accurate it is probable that this terse announcement that a Short Sunderland flying-boat shot down a Messerschmitt 110 would have read very differently. The flying-boat had just landed and the captain was rowing in a whaler to a nearby warship when a heavy attack was made by Junker aeroplanes. Quickly the flying-boat’s captain returned to his craft and began to taxi over the water - and dodge the bombs. After a while the flying-boat’s engines became hot and in order to cool them the pilot took off, only to be attacked immediately by a Messerschmitt 110. CRASH INTO SEA The German machine, however, was unable to withstand the concentrated fire from the heavily armed Sunderland and crashed into the sea. Tire Short Sunderland flying-boats are some of the largest service aeroplanes in use. Weighing over 20 tons, with a wing-span of just over 112 feet, and carrying a crew of 10, they carry out reconnaissance flights lasting from 14 to 16 hours. They are able to carry out shallow bombing dives, as several submarines know to their cost and their heavy armament —they have two poweroperated turrets—makes them a formidable proposition even for the nimble Messerschmitt 110, although their top speed is only 210 miles an hour against the German fighter’s 370 miles an hour. These boats are easily manoeuvred in spite of their great size and are a development of the well-known “Empire” class of flying-boat of commercial fame. Attached to the Coastal Command, these aircraft have taken part in the command’s activities, which include convoying merchant ships against air attack and the command has the proud boast that an air escorted convoy has never yet lost a ship. The Sunderlands, which were used to land the experts who preceded the British troops’ landing in Norway after the German invasion also co-operated with other branches of the Air Force and the Navy in driving off practically all the German vessels from between Bergen and Trondheim. NORWEGIAN TANKER ON FIRE AVIATION PETROL CARGO FOR GLASGOW CHARLESTOWN (South Carolina), April 29. Fire broke out in the engine-room of the Norwegian tankei - Willy, which is anchored in the harbour loaded . with 8000 tons of aviation petrol consigned to Glasgow. Firemen clothed in asbestos suits boarded the Willy and expressed the opinion that the water-filled compartments between the engine-room and the oil tanks would prevent an explosion, MINES IN GULF OF FINLAND NO FORMAL NOTICE GIVEN TO BRITAIN LONDON, April 29. Britain has not received formal notice of any mine-laying in the Gulf of Finland, so it is impossible to ascertain who is responsible. Some reports suggest that they are mines laid during the Russo-Finnish war and since broken free from the ice. SOUTHERN ~RHODESIA’S CONTRIBUTION LONDON, April 29. In the coming year Southern Rhodesia intends to contribute £1,500,000 to the cost of the war. This amount will be required to cover all internal defence measures in the colony. The Bank of England has offered to buy the entire Southern Rhodesian gold output.