HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21994, 20 June 1941, Page 5

HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES

Fights For Mastery Of Channel Bombing Offensive Maintained British Official Wireless (Bee. 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 18. It is authoritatively stated that on Wednesday evening there were further operations over Northern France and the Channel in which squadrons of Royal Air Force fighters were accompanied by aircraft of the Bomber Command. Full reports are not yet available, but it is known that a military camp was bombed and that nine

enemy aorcraft were destroyed. Four of our fighters were lost. Twenty-two enemy fighters have been shot down by the RAF. in fierce ah' battles over the Channel and the French coast in the last two days. Nine enemy machines were destroyed last evening at a cost of four RAF. fighters and last night’s bag was 13 at a cost of ten RAF. machines. Many squadrons from each side clashed in fierce combat as the Germans sought to challenge the British mastery oi the Channel sky. The RAF. fighters were escorting big forces of bombers drawn from the Coastal and Bomber commands which renewed their attacks on shipping and the invasion ports. Attacking Boulogne and a German military camp in northern France, the Bomber Command last evening sent over strong formations of heavy machine*. These were screened oy strong escorts of Spitfires and Hurricanes. The attack was one of the heaviest delivered on tne enemy in this area since the war began. British bombers and fighters crossed and re-crossed the Channel and the Straits of Dover for seven hours, going out with bombs and returning for fresh supplies of fuel, bombs, and ammunition. An Air Ministry communique tonight states that squadrons of fighters and bombers were engaged in the attack. Some formations raided Boulogne and penetrated some miles inland to attack a military camp. Other fighter formations maintained patrols along the coast. The bomber formations did considerable damage to buildings, stores, and dumps at Boulogne ana machine-guns and bombs did extensive damage at the military camp. In spite of intense anti-aircraft fire all the British bombers returned safely. Day Raid on Bethune Forces of Blenheim aircraft of the Bomber Command with a strong fighter escort yesterday attacked an important industrial plant near Bethune, to occupied France. The

attack was made to daylight and there was no cloud cover. Sticks of bombs were dropped right across the plant. Fires were at once started and in a few seconds quantities of smoke were rising high into the air. "As I watched the smoke curling up I imagined that there would be no more to see,” said one observer, “but evidently the flames had touched off chemicals in the works for there were sudden bright explosions. They must have caused much destruction in the curious onion shaped cooling towers for the clouds of smoke immediately increased and thickened.” As the aircraft made for home their path was lined with black puffs of exploding anti-aircraft shells. Fighters Beat Off Attack Overhead against a background of blue sky and very high cirrus clouds fighters were busy beating off a yellownosed Messerschmitt which had got among our bombers. Four of them opened fire at close range. The enemy was hit and broke off the fight with black smoke pouring from tne roof and the port wing. Ground crews were waiting at the base for the bombers’ return and as they circled before landing word went round that all were safe. Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Fighter Command provided an escort for the bombers in the successful raid over occupied France yesterday. They also swept the Channel and enemy occupied territory, shooting down 13 Messerschmitts and damaging several others. A number of fighter squadrons provided the escort and although the German fighters tried to attack the bombers every one was fought off 'by the Royal Air Force pilots who guarded the bombers to their target, protecting them during a successful bombing, and brought them all back to their base without loss. RAF. Sweeps Channel One pilot reported that a Messerschmitt tried to attack the bombers as soon as they crossed the French coast and until they were half-way back across the Channel. Forty to 50 Messerschmitts attacked us for 30 minutes,” said one pilot’s report. The Polish Squadron winch formed part of the escort was constantly attacked while over France, but it prevented the enemy aeroplanes getting near the bombers. During this operation Spitfires and Hurricanes of other squadrons swept the Channel and northern France. The total figure of enemy casualties Includes only those aircraft seen to err ’ and takes uo account of those probably destroyed, but which did not crash within sight of British aircraft. Seventh Dusseldorf Raid Another heavy raid was carried out by the Royal Air Force on the industrial areas of Western Germany last night Cologne and Dusseldorf had their seventh successive heavy night raid, and again the British bombs caused many large fires and did extensive damage. Rail and water communications were singled out for special atetntlon, and these received a hammering. The Official German News Agency admits that high-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped in western Germany last night. A German supply ship of 1500 tons was bombed and hit by a Coastal Command aircraft off Brest to-day. Making two attacks, the pilot flew over the ship and dropped a quick stick of bombs. He saw two bombs hit the ship amidships, below the waterline, and immediately afterwards a great gush of

steam belched from the funnel, at though the bombs had exploded in the en An 6 A£ m Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: “A very small number of enemy aircraft flew over the coastal areas in South Wales this afternoon. Up to 8 p.m. there were no reports of any bombs having been dropped. One enemy bomber was destroyed last night to raids on this country.”