MOST EFFECTIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21366, 10 March 1941, Page 5

MOST EFFECTIVE

GOOD WORK BV BLENHEIMS ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED i GREAT RESULTS ACHIEVED ■ (L'niteo Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 10, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON. March 9 The Sunday Times says: “Although the Hurricanes and Defiants are domg good work in intercepting night bombers over England, perhaps the most straightforward and most effective job is being performed by the night-flying Bristol Blenheim two moth fignter-bombers. normally carrying three of a crew. These Blenheims sit about over the aerodromes in France used by the enemy for night-flying and pounce on weary bombers returning worse for wear after a night raid over England. “If the aerodrome landing lights are switched on to help the German bombers descend safely, the Blenheims are given an excellent chance to pick them off as they glide to the ground. Light bombs are then dropped on the fiarepath to finish off the job. A number of bombers has been destroyed in this way. “If enemy bombers are diverted to i strange aerodromes in order to avoid j the Blenheims they may be compelled to attempt a landing in the | dark, this greatly increasing the risk !of crashing. Eventually these tactics j may push back the bases from which I the bombers operate against Britain, | which would be most satisfactory because it means increased expenditure I of German petrol, a decreased bombj load, decreased time over Britain, more strain on the crews and j machines, and also more chance of the raiders encountering bad weather.” GERMAN LOSSES AEROPLANES SHOT DOWN ROYAL NAVY ASSISTS I " (OlTlrial Wireless* (Received March 10, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 9 During the week ended at midnight \ on Saturday eleven German planes were destroyed over and around | Britain, against one British aircraft J lost. ; One enemy aircraft was destroyed :by the Royal Navy in the period from noon oh March 1 to noon on March 8. SUCCESSFUL MINE LAYING GOOD WORK BY AIRMEN MANY SHIPS DESTROYED KIEL CANAL DAMAGED (United press Assn. — Elec Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 7 Details of mine-laying by the Royal | Air Force are revealed by the Air : Ministry News Service. From Nor- | way and the Baltic to the Mediterra- | nean there are few ports, estuaries or shipping channels in enemy use that have escaped the attention of the mine-layers. The operations have been outstandingly successful. For military reasons it is not possible to reveal full details of tne location or number of the successes obtained. However, as an indication of the results, in less than 10 per cent of the total minefields laid by the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm well over 100 ships engaged in supply to the enemy are known to have been destroyed. Among these losses were enemy war vessels and troopships, by the destruction of which the German forces suffered heavy casualties in personnel. j In December a shij) laden with iron ore was sunk in the Kiel Canal, and air reconnaissance clearly revealed the obstruction. There could be no obstacle more difficult to clear than a sunken ship with such a cargo. Throughout this period, even when the canal was not completely blocked it was only open to the passage of the smallest ships. The canal bottom was damaged where the ship sank and one embankment collapsed. Various excuses, ranging from the ingenious to the ludicrous, have been advanced by the Germans to explain away the difficulties of transit. At one period a collision was blamed. This obviously would not do. Very strict precautions are normally in force in the canal and ships move slowly in transit. The German Version A Berlin communique states: German’ bombers on Saturday attacked Royal Air Force bases in North London, the east coast, Scotland and the Orkneys and destroyed a large number of planes on the ground. A violent attack on harbour and dock installations in London last night caused several large fires and a number of small fires.and explosions. A homber also scored hits on Portsmouth harbour works. NEW ZEALAND PILOTS TRIBUTE BY INSTRUCTOR “ KEEN TO LEARN JOB ” United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 8 Finishing training in Scotland is a group of New Zealand pilots who are consolidating the good impresi sions left by previous airmen from the Dominion' “ The finest bunch I ever came across,” says an instructor who has had a variety of British pilots pass through his hands. “These boys are ‘ quiet-mannered, with a sense of ! humour and keen to learn the job. I “As for sport and games, they are j the best all-rounders I have ever met. j Whenever weather prevents flying. ■ they go off on trips to local places of i interest. They seem nearly as keen cn it as on flying.”