TURNING TAIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 129, 1 May 1940, Page 7

TURNING TAIL

GERMAN AIRCRAFT. ENGAGEMENTS WITH 11.A.F. REFUGE IN CLOUDS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received May 1, 10.10 a.m. RUGBY, April 00. During the last 24 hours formations of 11.A.F. Coastal Command aircraft on patrol along the Norwegian coast have reported a series of encounters with enemy bombers. One small flight of Blenheims over Andalsnes gave chase to a Junkers BS, which took refuge in a cloud. Avoiding ail action of tin's kind was also resorted to by Heinkcl Ill’s which the Blenheims intercepted and attacked from astern. v The Blenheims next observed a Mcsscrschmitt 110 climbing out of the clouds. Tho Nazi fighter had a rough encounter and was last seen spiralling down in distress. Two other aircraft saw a Heinkcl 111 flying dead across their tracks. They pursued it for ten minutes with sustained fire. This Heinkcl also flew into a cloud and could not be found again. Another Junkers 8S was attacked effectively from its quarter and the rear, and its tail gun was put out of action. Great plumes of black smoke came from both engines. The Gcrjyian was losing height rapidly as he made off. Entering, a fiord farther south, a Coastal Command aircraft met another Junkers -88, which turned and escaped into the clouds. AIRPORT BOMBED. Oslo’s principal airport, Forncbu, which tho Nazis are using as a base lor troop transport from Germany, was attacked for tho fourth time last night by tho Royal Air Foreo Bomber Command. Tho attack took the form of a series of raids, starting shortly after midnight and continuing for over an hour. Attacking singly and in succession, tho British aircraft dropped a largo number of high explosive bombs on the aerodrome and across tho landing ground. Parachute flares were dropped to assist observation, and bursts were seen in lino spreading from the northwest to the 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 tho cost of one aircraft, which failed to return, considerable damage is believed to have been done to tbs airport and the aircraft dispersed round it.