COASTAL COMMAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 January 1940, Page 5

COASTAL COMMAND

AIR GUARD OVER VAST AREA ATTACKS ON GERMAN PLANES AND SUBMARINES. A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigin. (Received This Day. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, January 1. The Coastal Command stretches from the Arctic Circle to the Bay of Biscay, and from the western coasts of Europe to some hundreds of miles west of Ireland. Its aircraft, from the outbreak of war to Christmas Day, had flown over ‘',570,000 miles, accomplished in 44,000 Hying' hours, during' which enemy submarines had been, sighted 107 times and fifty-seven attacks made on them. The Bomber Command made 27 mass flights over Germany. About 90 German aircraft have attempted to Cross the British coast or to operate in British territorial waters, of which 23 are known to have been brought down by British aircraft and three by anti-aircraft guns. One crashed. Altogether 58 German machines have been destroyed since the war began—six by anti-aircraft fire, one crashed and 51 by British air action. Among the tasks of the Coastal Command is the provision of escorts for fishing fleets. The Navy has dubbed the aircraft so employed “kipper kites."