FLEET AIR ARM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1940, Page 5

FLEET AIR ARM

MAGNIFICENT WORK DONE IN NORWAY ADMIRALTY SIGNALS CONGRATULATIONS HEAVY DAMAGE INFLICTED ON ENEMY. SOME INEVITABLE BRITISH LOSSES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, May 3. The successes of the Fleet Air Arm in Norway since April 24, when the naval planes began to support the land forces, are recounted by the Admiralty, which signalled to officers and men: “We are proud of the Fleet Air Arm.” In the course of operations against a vastly superior air force, working from shore bases, the Fleet Air Arm destroyed at least ten German planes and damaged many others. Naval planes on April 25 in force attacked bases of shipping in the Trondheim area and destroyed at Varnes three hangars, other buildings, and two grounded bombers, and successfully bombed and machine-gunned nine seaplanes at their moorings. Two tankers were set on fire at Thamshavn. Naval planes on April 28 returned to the attack against Varnes. where all the remaining hangars and several grounded planes were destroyed. Fly-ing-boats and seaplanes were attacked with excellent results. In the course of these operations five planes were shot down. The Admiralty adds: “Operations of this magnitude inevitably involve loss. It is regretted that the crews of six of our planes are missing. No losses of his Majesty’s ships have occurred since the German invasion of Norway, except those announced, while at least twenty planes have been shot down and others damaged by the fleet’s antiaircraft gunfire.” The Fleet Air Arm, since April 24, has been supporting the land forces in Norway, during which operations 10 German planes have been destroyed and many others damaged, Daventry reports. British ships have been experiencing many bombing attacks and an attack on an aircraft carrier was broken up by the Fleet Air Arm, and two out of seven German planes were shot down. In all these operations the crews of six naval aircraft are missing.