AIR OFFENSIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 143, 17 May 1940, Page 6

AIR OFFENSIVE

NAZIS SUFFER HEAVILY. ALLIED STRATEGY SUCCEEDS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 15. The Air Ministry announces that further details have been received of yesterday’s Allied air attack in the Sedan area. Yesterday morning it was seen tliat a heavy olfensivu was developing at the crossings of the Meuse. Light bombers were sent out to attack the pontoon bridges which the enemy had thrown across tho river. Several of these bridges were destroyed and, although subjected to intense anti-air-craft fire, all our aircraft returned safely. . Later in the day, as the situation had deteriorated, forces of British and French bombers launched a combined attack on the crossings of the Meuse and the main lines of the advancing reinforcements. The attack was opened by a large wave of French bombers with fighter escorts, and was followed up by still heavier British formations.

Over 150 Allied aircraft took part in this operation, in which four bridges were destroyed, large tank and troop concentrations broken up, and roads blocked. The effect of this operation was to halt the German advance in the Sedan sector and enable the French to launch a vigorous counter-attack. Throughout the day extensive bombing operations were also carried out on other parts of the battle front. Considerable damage was inflicted on the enemy. RAIDS IN GERMANY. During the night bombing raids were carried out in Germany on the enemy’s lines and communications. Relays of fighter patrols, in-some-of-.which French and British pilots flew :iu company, were carried out yesterday from dawn till dusk. ; ' Sections of our fighter aircraft engaged enemy formations at considerable odds. In one instance six' Hurricanes attacked 54 Messerschmitt 1-10’s and a number of bombers. In another three Hurricanes engaged nine Heinkels. Reports’ from our fighter pilots show that the enemy bombing formations were often broken up by the dash of our attack.

. Apart from the operations in the Sedan area, where success could not have been achieved without casualties being sustained, the balance of aircraft losses remains heavily in the Allies’ favour. Reconnaissance patrols were flown along the Dutch coast,' where many wrecked aircraft were seen on the beaches and fields around The Hague. ’PLANES WREAK HAVOC. Details of a devastating daylight attack by Biitish bombers on an enemy mechanised column several miles long may now be given. In the early stages of the German invasion of Belgium large enemy concentrations were reported to be moving forward through the frontier at Maastricht. A strong force of Blenheim bombers was at onee_ despatched with orders to find the* enemy’s leading column and delay its advance. The force located the column on the road leading from Maastricht towards Tongres. The column comprised a moving mas« of small tanks, armoured cars, and rno.or transports loaded with troops, stretched for nearly five miles, and was progressing steadily at a speed or about 20 to 25, miles an hour. The tanks were leading, and the long line of vehicles was mostly bunched at Maastricht and gradually thinned out towards Tongres, wdiere the vehicles were some twenty yards apart. Breaking up to allow individual approach, and diving to within 1000 ft of the ground, the bomoer tormation went into action. Or.e atter another the Blenheims attacked in quick succession, and from different directions high-explosive bombs of heavy calibre tore great craters in the road surface, piling the vehicles in hopeless confusion, while large numbers of smaller bombs played havoc with the personnel. The initial attack brought the head of the column to a halt, and by the time the last Blenhem swooped down through a hail of rifle and machine-gun fire to drop its bombs on the pi!ed-up mass of damaged cars and overturned transports the whole column was stopped and the road eftec .ively blocked. ATTACKS HELD. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 15. An official British communique issued shortly after midnight states that the 8.E.F., after bal'd fighting, to-day successfully held serious German attacks. Since the German offensive started the air component with the' B.E.F. has destroyed at least 124 enemy ’planes. Anti-aircraft artillery lias shot down at least 23 in the rear areas, and many others have been shot down by forward troops—at least seven by the Territorial formation.