NEW MINEFIELDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24408, 20 September 1940, Page 5

NEW MINEFIELDS

LAID BY AIRCRAFT CLIMAX TO THOROUGH TRAINING (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Sept. 18. * The crews of the 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 were given a thorough training in their, work. Before ever the first mine was laid they made long reconnaissance flights over the areas and became familiar with the routes and peculiarities of the various coastlines. That the minefields have been laid with only one or two losses in aircraft is a high tribute to 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. Two nights ago the captain of one aircraft reported on his return that he had bombed a supply ship of about 7000 tons. “My navigator,” he said, “was certain that a direct hit was scored and that the vessel was sunk.” On the same night an enemy tanker was attacked with two highexplosive bombs and afterwards machine-gunned. The first bomb scored a direct hit on the after part of the shio. while the second missed the vessel by 10 yards. Though the actual end was not observed, the ship was obviously damaged and forced to stop. Incidents such as these, says the Air Ministry bulletin, help to relieve the monotony of sea crossing, but the crews engaged in these operations know their main job is minelaying. and nothing is allowed to divert them from it.