NAZI AIR LOSSES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 157, 3 June 1940, Page 8

NAZI AIR LOSSES

BATTLES OVER DUNKIRK. MARVELLOUS "R. A.F. WORK. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) . LONDON, June 1. The air battle over the Dunkirk beaches began again at dawn on Saturday. Soon the R.A.F. fighter patrols had shot down 14 Nazi fighters and seriously damaged five more. In the last two days they have accounted for 129 German ’planes, ‘All Friday this battle in the skies raged unceasingly, while on the sands below the _ withdrawal of the Allied troops continued. Hour after hour, German bombers, protected by swarms of fighters, came over in an attempt to Harass the evacuating army. Hour after hour, the R.A.F. fighters waged relentless war against them. At dusk the British fighter pilots had shot down 56 bombers and fighters, of which 42 were seen to crash in the sea.

Though the British fighters were heavily . outnumbered—sometimes by more than five to one—a squadron of Spitfires during a single patrol yesterday shot down a mixed bag of tito Messersehmitt 110 twin-engined' fighters, two Junkers 88 dive bombers, a Messersehmitt 109 and a 'Dormer 215 bomber.

On a dawn patrol this morning another Spitfire squadron in a few minutes accounted for six Messersehmitt 110’s, three Messersehmitt 109’s, and probably three more Messersehmitt 110’s.

"The Air Ministry announces: “We destroyed or seriously damaged 56 enemy ’planes yesterday on the northeastern coast of France. Our dawn patrol fighters over Dunkirk ,to-day shot down ten German fighters. One of our ’planes failed to return. Two of our bombers and one reconnaissance ’plane were lost during bombing operations in Flanders yesterday. Sixteen of our fighters did not return yesterday. TORPEDO BOATS ATTACKED.

“Our naval aircraft sank an enemy torpedo-boat off the Belgian coast today. Our medium and heavy bombers yesterday and last ijight bombed the enemy in Flanders and obtained hits against marching troops, motor transport columns and heavy artillery. Our 'planes also destroyed lock-gates and bridges.” Three Nazi motor torpedo-boats prowling off the Belgian coast in the hope of attacking British transports were attacked by aircraft this morning. One was sunk. Aircraft belonging to the Fleet Air Arm co-operating with the Coastal Command spotted the motor torpedo-boats cruising in line astern. They opened fire on an aeroplane which dropped a line of six bombs. A minute after the bursts the pilot saw two of the motor-boats were stationary and silent. There was no sign of the third.

The petrol and oil stores at Rotterdam, which ivere again bombed yesterday and early this morning by aircraft of the Coastal Command, are believed by the crews of the aircraft concerned, states an Air Ministry bulletin issued this morning, to be now totally-destroyed. Describing'yesterday's successful attack on the oil storage depots at Rotterdam, an" Air Ministry announcement says (further explosions and fires were caused. Coastal Command aircraft also successfully bombed the enemy-occupied harbours of Wellemsoord, Marsdiep and Terschclling in Holland. Direct hits were made on the quays and harbour equipment and on an enemy merchant vessel. A RUNNING FIGHT.

“To-day,” adds the announcement, “three Avro Ansoms of the Coastal Command Avere engaged by nine Messenschmitt fighters off the Belgian coast. In a running fight 50 feet above the sea, tAvo of the enemy AA-ere shot doAvn, tAvo disabled and the rest fieAV aAvay. Our craft returned safely. “Last night aircraft of the Bomber Command carried out heavy bombing attacks around Nieuport and on the port facilities at Ostend. Many hits Avere made and Avere folloAved by fires and explosions. “Medium bombers of the R.A.F. ■and Fleet Air Arm have continued to support the AvitlidraWal operations of the B.E.F. throughout the day. Canal bridges, motor transport, raihvay junctions, and troops haA'e been repeatedly attacked. In the Dunkirk area to-day the number of enemy aircraft confirmed as having been destroyed by aircraft of the' Fighter Command has already reached 40. A further 33 are reported as having been destroyed or severely damaged. Thirteen of our aircraft are reported missing. In the Narvik area on Wednesday our fighters destroyed tAvo enemy aircraft and severely damaged tAvo others.” RELIEF OF GARRISON. The R.A.F., units Avhich relieved the garrison at Calais Avith Avater and ammunition found that the toAvn Avas in flames, and the pall of smoke somewhat obscured the target. The leading ’planes met only light anti-aircralt fire, blit those Avhich folloived encountered heavy fire. One Avas lost, and most of those behind the leaders Avere hit several times. The machines came doAvn to 50 feet over the citadel. One of the pilots said: “As far as I could judge, avc passed right over the target and dropped the Avater in the citadel. 1 Avas in the leading aircraft, which dropped containers in the Avestern part of the fort, and* I could see the other ’planes, dropping their loads in the eastern part. As far as I could see, Ave Avere all right over the target.” Later on, in the middle of the morning, more aircraft, accompanied this time by dive-bombers Avhich bombed the Germans AAdiile other ’planes Avere carrying out their mission, dropped small-arm ammunition and handgrenades into the citadel. ENEMY HARASSED. An Air Ministry communique states that night bombers, despite thick fog. reprovisioned forces in the region of Dunkirk and brought back valuable information . about enemy artillery activity, particularly north of the Peronne-Amiens line and north-east of Abbeville. The bombers attacked objectives north of Amiens and Abbeville and bombed motorised columns betAA-een Doullens and Abbeville. They harassed a tank convoy in the Abbeville region and brought doAvn a Messerschmitt. The bombers also attacked enemyoccupied airfields and dropped 22 tons of explosives. 'During these missions they attacked a strong force of German bombers flying toward the Rhone, shooting down a number of them.