HOW ILLUSTRIOUS WAS SAVED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21992, 18 June 1941, Page 5

HOW ILLUSTRIOUS WAS SAVED

Fought Way To Malta Many Attacks Beaten Off British Official Wireless (8 p.m.) RUGBY, June 16. A story of the brilliant organisation, seamanship and gunnery which saved the aircraft-carrier Illustrious when she was subjected to a series of air attacks in the Mediterranean on January 10, is now made public by the Admiralty. Within a few hours this ship was the mein target for six air attacks in which nearly 100 German and Italian ’planes took part. Both bombs and torpedoes were aimed at her, but only a very small’ proportion of the scores of bombs dropped registered hits. The Illustrious was sailing with the Battle Fleet when the early attacks were made. Tie first attack was by a couple o. .pedo bombers Both launched tl- torpedoes at her, but the aircraft-carrier altered course in good time and they missed. Naval aircraft from the carrier chased these bombers back to the shore. Soon afterwards German dive-bombers launched the worst attack «f the day. In wave after wave about 40 of them dived on the fleet, concentrating on the Illustrious in spite of the fierce fire from her anti-aircraft guns. Avoiding action was taken by her commanding officer and a fight made by the carrier’s aircraft against heavy odds. Several heavy bombs struck her. These not only put some of the anti-aircraft guns out of action and did damage between decks, but they also started several fires both fore and aft. Still the gun crews kept up their barrage and pilots and gtinners of the Fleet Air Arm smashed at the Junkers dive-bombers overhead while the ship took avoiding action. Two British naval pilots who had exhausted their ammunition in the earlier fight made dummy attacks on the German-dive-bombers and put them off their aim. Difficulties Below Decks It was then that the high degree of efficiency achieved in the centralisation of the damage control organisation of the ship was manifested. Most of tffe numerous small fires which had been started by bombs in various -parts of the ship were quickly put out, and the damage done below decks was soon shored up. A serious fire in the section of one hangar defied all the efforts of the reinforced fire-fighting parties. The damage caused by a heavy bomb in this section hampered efforts to fight the blaze. The fire-fighting parties were driven back, but they still made every effort to confine the flames to the section on which they had a hold. Now the Illustrious, with destroyers in attendance, turned and headed for Malta. At this stage her steering gear broke down and the ship had to be steered with her engines. The ship also was developing a list because of the accumulation of water being poured on the fires. Down in the boiler rooms conditions were growing almost unbearable. The draught fans wrt» pouring down thick clouds of black smoke and the fumes of the chemical fire extinguishers. But steam had to be maintained at all costs and the men in the boiler rooms held on doggedly. They had to breathe through Wet cloths, gasping to get each breath. Then a third., air attack on the ship was launched. This was a high-level bombing attack by seven bombers which were sighted far off and tackled in good time by the fighters protecting the Bhistrious. The attackers were forced to drop their bombs harmlessly in the sea. while this attack was being beaten off the Illustrious was temporarily out of control and swinging in wide circles. - She was got under control and again headed for Malta, but soon 15 Junkers dive-bombers protected by five fighters were seen approaching. The first wave dived to the attack and two of their bombs fell near. The second wave followed quickly but was no more successful, although one bomb scored a near miss. The gun crews of the Illustrious, although handicapped by smoke from the fire of their ship, put up such a barrage that this attack was not pressed home. After the second wave had been held off the rest of the German aircraft started to retire. They made one last attempt to attack but were driven off without dropping bombs. The Illustrious was getting near Malta, but another bombing attack Was yet to be made. With only a few miles to go 17 enemy aircraft appeared. This was a combined attack by high level and dive-bombing. Again the Illustrious fo' aht them off and continued on her wav towards Malta She was in sight of the harbour when the last alarm was raised. Two enemy torpedoed bombers were sighted, but the Illustrious opened such a hdt and accurate fire that no definite attack developed. Thus, after about seven hours air attack, the Illustrious made port. Even then she was the focus for a number of air attacks. Apart from the very heavy losses inflicted on the enamv during his raids on Malta, the Illustrious and her aircraft imposed the following losses on the enemy during the attacks at sea—Nine German aircraft were shot down, five by naval aircraft and four by gunfire. A further seven were seen damaged, and at least two of these almost certainly failed to return to their base.