OFFENSIVE SWEEPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1941, Page 5

OFFENSIVE SWEEPS

MADE BY ROYAL AIR FORCE OVER CHANNEL & NORTHERN FRANCE. ATTACKS ON ENEMY AIRCRAFT & SHIPS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright I j LONDON, May 15. Several offensive sweeps were carried out by R.A.F. fighters over the Channel and Northern France today. Several enemy aircraft were machine-gunned on the ground and one enemy plane was shot down. Ships were machine-gunned from a low level and one set on fire. An enemy ship in convoy was torpedoed by a British plane oIT the Dutch coast yesterday. THREE SHIPS BOMBED. An escorted enemy convoy off the Frisian Islands was attacked by British aircraft and three supply ships, of 5.000, 4.000 and 2.000 tons were bombed and left on fire. Enemy fighters attacked the British bombers. One enemy fighter was shot down and one British plane is missing. There was some activity by enemy aircraft round the coast of Britain today. Bombs were dropped at several points, but there was little damage and no casualties. One enemy bomber was shot down by fighters during the day and another was destroyed off the south coast last night. FAMOUS BUILDINGS DAMAGED IN NAZI RAIDS ON LONDON. LONDON. May 15. Famous buildings damaged in recent air raids on London included: Lambeth Palace (the home of the Bishop of London), St. James's Palace, the Church of St. Clement Danes, and the Old Bailey. Queen’s Hall was severely damaged and thousands of pounds worth of musical instruments of the London Philharmonic Orchestra destroyed. One end ol the Old Bailey was shattered. WESTMINSTER SCHOOL HAVOC WROUGHT EY BOMBS. , (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 14. , The damage by bombs to Westminster School includes the destruction of the 200-year-old dormitory where the King’s scholars slept and where the historic Latin play look place every December. Serious damage was done to the great school room where the annual ceremony of tossing the pancake took place. The panelling in the big hall with the memorial containing the-names of old Westminster boys has been destroyed. BOMB IN FLEET STREET LONDON. May 15. It can now be revealed that a big time bomb came down in Fleet Street i in a recent raid a few yards from the : Australian Associated Press office, which with, the neighbouring build'ings was temporarily evacuated.