NIGHT OF TERROR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1941, Page 6

NIGHT OF TERROR

FOR ENEMY SHIPPING COASTAL COMMAND ATTACKS PRESSED HOME WITH GREAT ■ DARING. MANY HITS OBTAINED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.42 a.m.) RUGBY, December lb An Air Ministry communique, which reported heavy attacks by the Bomber Command on German ports, also states that Coastal Command aircraft made low-level attacks on enemy shipping off the Dutch coast last night. Hits were obtained on a tanker and on several medium-sized supply ships, one of which was left sinking. Details given by the Air Ministry news service show that some fairly large enemy supply ships werq attacked by Hudsons and Beauforts of the Coastal Command. In several cases explosions, smoke and fire were seen as the aircraft wheeled round after thudding their delayed action bombs into the hulls from mast height. Five vessels were bombed by Hudsons of the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron, which already has a fine record of “blitzes” on enemy’shipping. A sergeant pilot left one ship sinking off the Dutch coast. Five minutes afterwards, another sergeant found another slightly larger ship, not far from the first. He attacked it from almost deck level, and afterwards saw billowing clouds of -steam and smoke belching from the port end. One of the flight commanders of the squadron—an English squadron lead-er-attacked a medium-sized supply ship off Borkum, picking it up from a convoy of four or five vesesls. Violent anti-aircraft fire was put up and the Hudson had to take evasive action immediately after dropping a stick of bombs. The rear gunner, however, who was firing at the ship as they drew off, saw two' large explosions In the darkness.

Yet another Hudson piloted by a Canadian sergeant, attacked a rather smaller supply ship in a nearby area. The results of the 'bombing could not be observed. The aircraft was badly shot about, with the windows by the pilot’s head shattered by machine-gun fire. None of the crew, however, were injured. The last Hudson of this, squadron to make an attack on a vessel glimpsed •' in the darkness below was piloted by an American. He bombed a small vessel, but was unable to see the results.

Another squadron of Coastal Command Lockheed Hudsons, was also roaming the enemy coast last night, seeking out shipping. One aircraft of this squadron penetrated into the outer harbour at Ymuiden, through strong anti-aircraft fire from the mole and shore batteries. The pilot sighted a medium-sized vessel at moorings in the harbour and put a stick of bombs across her. One hit was scored on the ship, the explosion being seen from the aircraft. The Hudson dodged the searchlights and returned to its base unscathed. Aircraft from a Coastal Command Beaufort squadron also claimed a ship. The pilot sighted two more supply ships in convoy off Borkum and selected the largest ship—one of medium size—for attack. He dropped a stick of bombs across her and a few seconds later his crew saw a large explosion amidships.