AIR STRENGTH

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20990, 18 December 1939, Page 8

AIR STRENGTH

THE COASTAL COMMAND CONVOY PROTECTION AN INTERESTING STORY 'United Tress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 16 The following account of a spell of duty with a Royal Air Force coastal command aeroplane providing protection for a merchant vessel convoy is given by the occupant of one such aircraft:— “Our flight started from the east coast. Taking off in a haze of smoke blown over the countryside from factories further north, we were soon out over the sea. “In a few minutes we had reached the convoy. The toy-like ships followed steadily in each other’s wake while destroyers zig-zagged on each side and ahead.

“Guarded by sea and air, the convoy was a formidable formation for any U-boat to tackle. There could be little doubt that bombs and depth charges would send a pirate to his account. ' “The aircraft we were relieving flew alongside while the pilots who came from the same station and were due for a game of squash racquets together later in the day, waved their arms. The others banked away and set a course for home. Ships Must Keep Station "At a height of a few hundred feet we made a round of the convoy, looking down on the grey painted hulls and funnels, and the yellowish brown decks. From above, the ships seemed hardly to be moving, but splashes of spray around their swinging bows showed that they really were making good headway. ‘‘Every ship must keep her station. To leave formation is to invite danger from mines. We saw a small, fast steamer try to make use of her superior speed and draw ahead. “Turning sharply, a warship raced back and signalled to the delinquent to move back into line. Then the cargo boat’s bow wave disappeared as' she fell back to take her proper place. Soon she was in line again and the destroyer was back at her station.

“We flew ahead of the patrol route. Suddenly a light winked intermittently from the bridge of one of the destroyers. Our wireless operator picked up his signalling lamp, pointed it through the window toward the destroyer, and, moving a finger on a trigger like that of a pistol, he clicked out an acknowledgement. “Again the distant light flashed, following us as we circled the destroyer. The operator wrote the message as he watched the signals and handed a slip to the pilot. This read: ‘Am going to let off some practice rounds.’ Salvo of Guns “We flew to a safe distance and saw the flash of an anti-aircraft gun as the destroyer fired a target shell. Tiny puffs of smoke appeared high against the blue sky and a powerful salvo followed. “In the aircraft we heard the boom of the guns above the roar of our engines. In a few seconds the sky was spotted with smoke puffs and we saw a spectacle which made us heartily glad it was not our duty to attack British warships. “Later hot tea from flasks, and packets of sandwiches, made a welcome interlude, and in due course we were on the lookout for the aircraft which was to relieve us. Dead on the minute it arrived. “Once again greetings were exchanged, and on this occasion it was our turn to hand over. We waved our arms, banked away and sped homeward. A new sentry was on duty carrying on the guard from the air of the ships at sea.” New Zealand Pilots It is revealed that a former Australian draughtsman piloted one of the British aeroplanes in the Heligoland battle. Others included four New Zealanders, one of whom was formerly an engineer, three Canadians and two South Africans. It is officially stated that bombing of German seaplanes and German bases occurred less than 12 hours after the Heliogoland battle. Security patrol fighters and bombers carried out the attack. LOSS OF H.M.S DUCHESS CASUALTIES TOTAL 129 (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 16 The Admiralty to-night published a list, “now believed to be complete,” of the casualties sustained by the recent loss of H.M.S. Duchess following upon a collision. The list contains the names of six officers and 123 ratings. CONTRABAND CONTROL JAPANESE SHIP RELEASED ASSURANCES BY GOVERNMENT (Official Wireless) (Received Dec. 18, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 17 The Ministry of Economic Warfare has announced that the Japanese ship Sanyo Maru, carrying a cargo of German exports, has been released from the Contraband Control base in the Downs, after a stay of 24 hours. Assurances had previously been given by the Japanese Government that all the goods of German origin on board had been paid for before November 27. Official statements issued with the Order-in-Council of November 27 stated that exemption might be given ior goods of German origin which had become neutral property prior to that date.