DAYLIGHT ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1941, Page 6

DAYLIGHT ATTACKS

MADE BY ROYAL AIR FORCE ON ENEMY-OCCUPIED TERRITORY. THREE ENEMY FIGHTERS SHOT DOWN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 12.37 p.m.) RUGBY. February 2. An Air Ministry communique issued tonight states: “Shortly before dawn this morning, a small force of R.A.F. bombers attacked docks at Boulogne and Ostend. “During daylight today formations of our fighters carried out offensive sweeps over the Straits of Dover and enemy-occupied territory. Of the small number of enemy aircraft encountered three, all fighters, were destroyed. In one of these .sweeps our fighters were accompanied by a small force of bombers which attacked the docks at Boulogne. “Other .attacks were made by single aircraft of the Coastal Command on enemy aerodromes at Ostend and Berok. An enemy fighter which attacked one of these aircraft was shot down, One of our aircraft, a fighter, is missing from these operations." An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique dealing with today's enemy activity over Britain states: "During daylight today, there has been slight activity by single enemy aircraft over the eastern portion of England. In East Anglia bombs were dropped at a few places, but did little damage and caused no casualties. This afternoon some houses and shops were damaged and a small number of people were injured by bombs dropped al two places on the Kent coast.’ FIGHTERS’ DAY OUT HURRICANES & SPITFIRES OVER FRANCE. DESTRUCTION OF THREE ENEMY PLANES. (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) RUGBY. February 2. Well over a hundred Spitfires and Hurricanes took part in extensive patrols over Northern France. Squadrons of Hurricanes and of Spitfires, keeping guard above, escorted a small bomber force which attacked Boulogne Docks and bombed barges moored alongside the quays. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was experienced by the attacking force. One of a formation of Messerschmitt 109’s burst into flames after an attack by the leader of one of the Spitfire squadrons and crashed just outside Boulogne Harbour. A sergeant-pilot of the same squadron attacked another Messerschmitt. one of six flying in formation The enemy dived and the sergeant pilot went after him, eventually closing in to within fifty yards. He was still firing his guns when he was 'only a few feet from the waves. He then broke off the combat, but on his return to his base, learned from another pilot that the Messerschmitt he had been attacking actually crashed into the sea in flames. A twenty-eight-year-old Ame-rican-born flight lieutenant of another famous auxiliary squadron got a third Messerschmitt 109. Other pilots on patrol during the day all agreed that very few German aircraft' had been seen, cither over the Channel or on the northern coast of France.