BATTLE OVERHEAD

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21654, 14 February 1942, Page 7

BATTLE OVERHEAD

FIERCE AERIAL CLASH MANY HITS REGISTERED BRITISH LOSE 42 PLANES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. CocyrUrHt) LONDON, Feb. 13 A joint Admiralty and Air Ministry communique dealing with the Dover Strait sea and air battle states: At about 11 a.m. on Thursday R.A.F. aircraft reported an enemy squadron consisting of the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, accompanied by destroyers, torpedoboats, E-boats and mine-sweepers, approaching the Dover Strait from the west. The enemy squadron was heavily escorted by fighter aircraft. Visibility at this time varied from three to five miles, with low cloud, and the enmey ships were never visible from the English coast. Coastal craft of the Dover naval command were immediately sent out to attack, together with Swordfish aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm, strongly escorted by R.A.F. fighters. Intense Fire Met Attacks, both by the Swordfish and coastal craft, were pressed home in the face of intense fire from the enemy surface vessels and opposition by enemy fighters. Reports indicate that the Swordfish scored at least one hit on one of the enemy heavy ships. One of our motor torpedo-boats also claimed a possible hit, but owing to the intense barrage and heavy smoke-screen put up by the enemy it was impossible to assess the results of the attack.

The enemy force was repeatedly attacked by R.A.F. aircraft, strongly escorted by fighters. The results were difficult to see, owing to low cloud, but according to preliminary reports Coastal Command Beauforts claimed three hits with torpedoes, and Bomber Command crews are confident that each of the main enemy units was hit. Destroyers Intercept Twenty of our bombers, including five Coastal Command aircraft, and 16 fighters, were lost. Fifteen enemy fighters were destroyed by our fighter escort, and at least three more by the bombers themselves. Destroyers under the command of Captain C. T. M. Pizey, R.N., in H.M.S. Campbell, also proceeded to intercept and attack the enemy. • At 3.45 p.m. our destroyers sighted the enemy and went in to attack in the face of heavy enemy bombing and also heavy gunfire from all the enemy surface ships. Our destroyers took advantage of a rain squall to press their attacks home. Owing to low visibility and the heavy fire to which the destroyers were subjected, it was not possible to be certain of the result, but there is reason to believe that at least one torpedo hit was obtained. The casualties in our destroyers were not heavy.