GRIM TENACITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 July 1940, Page 5

GRIM TENACITY

PLANE ALMOST SHOT TO PIECES BUT BOMBING TASK COMPLETED IN ATTACK ON GERMAN NAVAL FORTRESS. STORY OF MAGNIFICENT EXPLOIT. (British Official Wireless.) , RUGBY, July 27. Their aircraft severely crippled by anti-aircraft fire over Germany, the crew of a night bomber recently succeeded in completing their mission and coming safely back to their base in England. The bomber’s objective was an important naval target in Germany, and on reaching Emden it was met with heavy fire from ground batteries. “We glided down to 100 feet over Ems River,” stated the captain in his report, “and once clear of Emden met only light anti-aircraft fire till we came to the oil depots at Fande, where we ran into anti-aircraft fire, which can only be described as terrific. “We reached Jade River with a large hole in the port wing, where a shell had gone through, and turning south, came down to 50 feet over Jade basin to make certain of locating the target. “Within a few minutes we seemed to be the target for every anti-aircraft battery in north-west Germany. One shell went clean through the starboard wing and another, which caught us close to the starboard engine, dented the starboard airscrew and peppered the fuselage with splinters. The tailwheel and both rudders were hit and the navigator was twice struck with shell splinters, though fortunately they lodged in his clothing.” At this stage the captain decided to seek safety in height, and with great difficulty, succeeded in climbing the damaged aircraft to just over 1000 feet. He then called up the rear gunner, and, getting no reply, sent the wireless operator aft to investigate. The operator came back to report that he had tapped the rear gunner on the back and received the brief reply, “No ammunition left.” Between them the two rear gunners had peppered the military ground targets with thousands of rounds of machine-gun fire. With the mission still to fulfil the pilot again descended, this time to 200 feet, and after unloading bombs on the target, turned for home. Nursing the crippled machine back over the North Sea, the pilot at last reached the base. A special emergency device had to be employed to force down the under-carriage, and, as the pilot levelled out to land, he was grimly aware of his smashed tailwheel. But the landing was brought off, and, as the bomber rolled to a standstill, observers marvelled at the return of an aircraft which was smashed and battered at almost every vital point, yet succeeded in completing its task. BOAST BY NAZIS CONTROL OF CHANNEL CLAIMED. LONDON, July 27. The German radio announces: “Germany controls the English Channel. Nothing Britain can do will alter this.” GERMAN REPORT BERLIN, July 27. A German communique states: — “The air force yesterday attacked British shipping in the Channel, sank a 26,383-tcn merchantman and damaged a destroyer. The steamer Sambre was sunk in a strongly-guarded convoy. Motor torpedo-boats, as already reported, sank four British merchantmen, totalling 22,000 tons and set fire to a merchantmen of 2000 tons. “The air force made a reconnaissance of the Shetlands and the whole English east coast, in spite of bad weather. Several fires were caused during attacks on harbour works at Hastings and elsewhere. Fresh attacks were directed against the railway junction at Tunbridge Wells and a large oil store at Thames Haven. “British planes penetrated western and south-western Germany and dropped a few bombs, without causing damage. Two were shot down. One of our machines was lost during an air battle over the Channel.”