EFFECTIVE AIR PATROL

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 9

EFFECTIVE AIR PATROL

Norwegian Coast GERMAN PLANES FLEE FROM R.A.F. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 30. Formations of the R.A.F. Coastal Command which have been on patrol along the Norwegian coast have reported a series of encounters with enemy bombers during the last 24 hours. One small flight of Blenheim bombers over Andalsnes gave chase to a Junkers 88, which accelerated to top speed and took refuge in a cloud. Avoiding action of _ this kind was also resorted to by Heinkel Ill’s which the Blenheims intercepted and attacked from astern. The Blenheims next observed a Messerschmitt 110 climbing out of a cloud and prepared to meet it. The Nazi fighter had a rough encounter,. and was last seen spiralling down in distress. Two other Coastal Command aircraft saw a Heinkel HI flying dead across their tracks. They got on its tail and pursued it for 10 minutes with sustained fire. This Heinkel also flew into a cloud and could not be found again. Another Junkers 88 was attacked effectively from the quarter and the rear. Its tail gun was put out of action and as it fled great plumes of black smoke came from both engines. The German was losing height rapidly as it made' off. On entering a fiord farther south Coastal Command aircraft met another Junkers 88, which turned and escaped in the clouds. Bombs On Oslo Airport. Oslo’s principal airport, Fornebu, which the Nazis are using as a base for transporting troops from Germany, was attacked for the fourth time last night by the R.A.F. Bomber Command. The attack took the form of a series of raids starting shortly after midnight and continuing for over an hour. ■Attacking singly and in succession the British aircraft dropped a large number of high-explosive bombs on the aerodrome and across the landing ground. Parachute flares were dropped to assist observation, and bursts were seen in a line spreading from north-west to south-east. In spite of strong opposition from gun batteries and searchlights, which increased in intensity as the raid developed, all the attacks were pressed home. At the cost of one aircraft which failed to return considerable damage is believed to have been done to the airport and to aircraft dispersed round it.