BUSY DAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1941, Page 5

BUSY DAY

AGAINST ENEMY SHIPS AND COASTAL TARGETS. ACHIEVEMENTS OF AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. i British Official Wireless.) RUGBY', September 20. The Fighter Command had its busiest day today since it took the offensive last January, states the Air Ministry news service. Hundreds of Spitfire and Hurricane fighters escorted bombers on attacks on shipping off the French and Dutch coasts and on objectives on the Continent. The area of the Fighter Command’s operations extended from Cherbourg to well up the Dutch coast, and over the whole area there was hardly a time when British fighters were not sweeping the skies and protecting bombers on successful raids. The operations were so widespread that some pilots carried out their missions without sighting enemy aircraft. This was because other squadrons, in different operations, were engaging enemy fighters. Six German fighters were shot down by an Australian squadron, three of them by a flight commander in the squadron who celebrated his return from leave in that way. His score is 10. enemy aircraft and the inspiring manner in which he got them has won him the D.F.C. and double bar.

WIDESPREAD ATTACKS. Describing widespread attacks by the Bomber Command, the Air Ministry states that in daylight today Blenheim, Hampden and Fortress aircraft went to Germany, Norway, France and Dutch coastal waters. At about 1 o’clock separate detachments of Blenheims, with fighter escorts, made two attacks, the second within a minute of the first, on well protected convoys sailing off the Dutch coast. The first convoy was headed north near Zandvoort. A number of Blenheims made an immediate attack on a tanker from 20 feet. They got several direct hits and there was .a heavy explosion followed by clouds of smoke. Almost at once the ship heeled over to port. Other Blenheims attacked a medium-sized ship and left it burning fiercely. One flak ship which was attempting to defend the convoy received a direct hit in the stern.

The second convoy was found by other Blenheims off the Hook of Holland. It comprised large merchant ships, several appearing to be over 6000 tons, with a balloon barrage attached to the vessels and a guard of flak ships. Four merchant vessels were left burning, and another had a broken back. One bomber made a low level attack on a ship carrying a barrage balloon.

A Blenheim was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the starboard engine and struck the water. It bounced up and struck the water again, but this time it took off almost like a seaplane, flew clear and got safely home. Other attacks during the afternoon included one on a fish oil factory in Norway from a height of 50 feet. Hits were observed on the building. A Fortress reached Emden and found fine weather over the target. Bombs were seen to burst in the target area. There was no opposition either from below or in the air. Two detachments of Blenheims attacked the docks at Cherbourg and a shipbuilding yard in the Seine near Rouen, formerly used by the French for building destroyers. Two railway yards in France were also bombed, one by Blenheims and the other by Hampdens, with fighter escorts. REAR-GUNNER’S REPORT. Describing the Hampdens’ attack on Abbevile, a rear-gunner said: “The chief thing was that there were absolutely no incidents. Nobody fired at u?

and we met no fighters. It was about the easiest trip I have been on.’ It is officially stated that 17 German fighters were shot down in the course of the R.A.F.’s daylight offensives over France and along the Belgian and Dutch coasts on Friday. The British losses were two bombers and nine fighters. Two fighter pilots are safe. An Australian squadron destroyed four and the New Zealand squadron, flying in the same wing, shot down three of the 17 enemy fighters.