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VALUABLE WORK.

R.A.F. MINELAYERS.

NORWAY TO BAY OF BISCAY. United Press Association. —Copyright.' (Reed. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 18. Extensive minefields have' been laid by Royal Air Force machines from the Norwegian coast to the Bay of Biscay. These operations have, been going on for months. Already thousands of tons of enemy shipping have been lost.

In some cases the British have laid mines within a few yards of quays in enemy-occupied ports. The British aircraft have flown hundreds of thousands of miles and have laid over 30 separate minefields with the loss of only one or two machines. The mine-laying aeroplanes also carry bombs to attack enemy shipping should it b* sighted. Recently the pilot of one machine bombed a 7000-ton enemy supply ship, on which he scored a. direct hit. The same night he bombed and machine-gunned an enemy tanker. Thorough Training of Pilots. The crews of British aircraft which, night after night, have been laying minefields in enemy-occupied harbours and territorial waters from the Norwegian coast to the Bay of Biscay, says a British official wireless message, were given a thorough training in their work before ever the first mine was laid. They made long reconnaissance flights over these areas and became familiar with the routes and peculiarities of the various coastlines. That minefields have been laid with only one or two losses in aircraft is a high tribute the skill of the navigators and the tenacity of the pilots. Besides carrying mines, the aircraft engaged in these expeditions also carry bombs in case an enemy supply ship should be met. Brush With the Enemy. Two nights ago the captain of one aircraft reported on'hie return that he had bombed a supply ship of about 7000 tons. "My navigator," he eaid, "was certain a direct hit was scored and the vessel sunk." On the same night, an enemy tanker was attacked with two high explosive bombs and afterwards machine-gunned. The first bomb ecored a direct hit on the after part of the ship, wh'le tha second missed the vessel by <0 yards. Though its actual end was not observed, the ship was obviously damaged and was forced to stop.

Incidents such as these, says the Air Ministry bulletin, -will help to relieve the monotony of a sea crossing, but the crews engaged in these operations know their main job is minelaying, and nothing is allowed to divert them from it.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19400919.2.113

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 223, 19 September 1940, Page 18

Word count
Tapeke kupu
403

VALUABLE WORK. Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 223, 19 September 1940, Page 18

VALUABLE WORK. Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 223, 19 September 1940, Page 18

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