TORPEDOED AT DUSK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1941, Page 6

TORPEDOED AT DUSK

ESCORTED ENEMY SUPPLY SHIP BEAUFORT GIVES FINISHING STROKE. FOLLOWING ON ATTACK BY BOMBERS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY. July 3. After repeated attacks, a heavilyladen German supply ship of between 5,C00 and 6,000 tons, was hit yesterday by a torpedo from a Coastal Command aircraft. Blenheim aircraft made the first attack, which was followed up by a torpedo from a Beaufort. The Blenheims found the ship early yesterday evening, at a short distance from the French coast, near Le Toquet. It was being escorted by two well-armed trawlers, acting as antiaircraft ships. The Blenheims attacked at close range, and although none of their bombs actually hit the ship they all fell so close that it was thought she must have been damaged. Reconnaissance aircraft confirmed that, while no actual damage could be seen, the ship had slowed down considerably and was making small progress. A torpedo-carrying Beaufort found her again as the last daylight was fading. “By now the German gunners were on their toes after’ the first attack,” said the Sergeant-Pilot of the Beaufort, when •he returned, “and they were quite ready for us. One antiaircraft vessel lay ahead of -the ship and one astern. They opened fire at once with some accuracy. We had to make several runs to get into the correct position for dropping the torpedo, but when we released it, the reargunner saw its track running true for the ship. A few seconds later a column of water was flung high into the air as the torpedo struck her.” All the aircraft returned safely.