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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0787.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 24, 1931 (•• Bulldogs "), and both sides suffered casualties. Asc -v fighters were judged to have been destroyed on the pound, these raids may be counted a success. TwoAuxiliary squadrons, Nos. 602 (City of Glasgow) and 604 (County of Middlesex) came over Dungeness to attack theWest India Docks, but low clouds kept them off. In fact, on this first evening the stars in their courses foughtfor the defence. At least the Hebrew poet attributed weather conditions to the stars ; prosaic moderncommuniques prefer to give the credit to the clouds. Night brought no peace to the London area. The" Virginias " and " Hinaidis " took up the work. The weather was slowly improving, but did not become reallyclear until 2 a.m. Consequently raids by machines of Nos. 58 and 99 Bomber Squadrons had to turn back.No. 10 B.S. sent out four " Hinaidis," which all reached the neighbourhood of Wormwood Scrubbs, but then-bombs missed the mark. No. 9 B.S. fared both better and worse. Four " Virginias " set out for the Chelseaobjective, but the " Bulldogs " of Nos. 3 and 32 F.S. intercepted them. Though the fighters suffered onecasualty, two of the " Virginias " were shot down. The other two dropped two tons of bombs, which did con-siderable damage to Government buildings. On the whole, it was a good night for the raiders. On Tuesday morning the weather was quite good, andthe bombers scored considerable successes. "Six squadrons made raids, and two of them got through without beingintercepted. The successful squadrons were No. 12 (Harts) and the A.A.F. squadron, No. 604 (County ofMiddlesex) in " Wapitis." No. 12 B.S. made a terrible mess of the imaginary docks at Hackney Marshes, whilethe County of Middlesex B.S. did excellent shooting on the West India docks and placed a ton of bombs on it.The other four raids were all intercepted by fighters, but despite casualties they mostly did a good deal of damage.It is regrettable that'Nos. 602 and 33 B.S. failed through inaccurate bombing to hit their targets after they hadreached them. It is not wise to pay very much attention to theumpires' decisions on the results of air fighting. They are bound to be very arbitrary and artificial. What wedo want to hear is whether the fighters engaged the bombers or whether the latter got through unmolested.It is certainly better for the interests of the defence that the raiders should be intercepted on their way in, beforethey have dropped any bombs ; but one should not make light of a successful attack by fighters when the bombersare on their return journey. In 1918 some very heavy blows were struck at German bombers on return journeys,and their losses on such occasions had a great deal to do with persuading the enemy that the game was no longerworth the candle. The following Press communiques were issued by the AirMinistry during the exercises : — (1)22.00 hours. Monday, July 20. 1931.—The Air Exercises of the Air Defence of Great Britain Command commenced this evening under varyingweather conditions. Showers occurred at many places during the afternoon and early evening, with considerable amount of cloud, but the skies commencedin clear towards evening. Visibility was good in most places, but in the neighbourhood of Londonmist and srnoke formed locally in the evening. At 18.00 hours BLUELAND'S ultimatum to REDLAND expired andhostilities commenced. Two raids consisting of 10 Day Bombers each, approached the West IndiaDock from the South East but failed to reach their objective. One raid escaped attack by the fighters of REDLAND but dropped nobombs. Of the other raid, one aircraft became separated from the formation andwas attacked by a Flight of Fighters near BIGGIN HILL. No information is available yet as to damage caused or casualties inflicted.Two further raids of 9 Day Bombers each, flying below 1,000 feet.lapproached from the North Ea=t via the THAMES and attacked HORNCHURCH andNORTH WEALD aerodromes respectively. The raid on NORTH WEALD was intercepted twice by Fighter Squadrons but no report of casualties hasyet been received. The HORNCHURCH raid was also attacked by 'one of the Fighter Squadrons over the objective. Two Squadrons of fast Day Bombers of 10 aircraft each, approachedLONDON from the West South West, but both were forced to turn back before reaching their objective owing to low clouds and mist.Altogether eight Squadrons of REDLAND'S Fighters were in action against enemy raiders.The ground defences also came into action but casualties inflicted by gun fire have not vet been assessed. (2)From 21.30 hours Monday, July 20 to 04.00 hours Tuesday, July 21, 1931.— 1. BLUELAND attacks on REDLAND were continued during the nightof the 20th/21st, although flying conditions were definitely bad. In parts of East and South East England rain fell until shortly after midnight, andthe clouds did not break appreciably until 2 a.m. 2. Night bombers approached the " Associated Aircraft Works" atWORMWOOD SCRUBBS on six occasions, but although flying at a low altitude they failed to identify their target. Many bombs, however, weredropped in the vicinity. 3. Attacks were also directed against the REDLAND " Seat of Govern-ment" at the DUKE OF YORK'S HEADQUARTERS. Two aircraft reached the neighbourhood, and dropped bombs without damage to Govern-ment buildings. 4. On the way to and from their targets th? invading bombers wereattacked on eight occasions by REDLAN'D fighters. Results have not yet been assessed. (3) Summary of Operations, 18.00 hours, July 20, to 09.00 hours, July 21,1931.—1. Weather conditions were generally adverse for flying during the evening and the night periods, especially in the eastern part of the Opera-tional Area, owing to low clouds and rain. Conditions improved iu the very early morning, which resulted in favourable weather conditionsthroughout the whole of the area during the morning phase. 2. Period 18.00 hours to 21.30 hours.—Nos. 602 and 604 Auxiliary AirForce Squadrons were directed to attack the WEST INDIA DOCKS by DUNGENESS AND SEVENOAKS, but were unable to reach this objectiveowing to low clouds. Nos. 35 and 207 (Bomber) Squadrons made successful low-flying attacks on NORTH WEALD and HORNCHURCH aerodromesrespectively, each employing nine aircraft. They were engaged by RED- LAND Fighter aircraft belonging to Nos. 29, 56, and 111 (Fighter) Squadrons.Two bombers were destroyed and one forced to land. Two fighters were destroyed in air fighting and six were damaged beyond repair on the ground.Further raids were attempted by Nos. 12 and 33 (Bomber) Squadrons, but these did not gucceed in penetrating the LONDON Area owing to badweather. 3. Period 21.30 hours to 04.00 hours.—Night attacks were made by singleaircraft of No. 9 (Bomber) Squadron on the REDLAND " Seat of Govern- ment" at the DUKE OF YORK'S HEADQUARTERS, and four wereintercepted by Nos. 3 and 32 (Fighter) Squadrons). Two night bomber* and one fighter aircraft were destroyed in air fighting. Two bombersreached the vicinity of the target, where they dropped 2 tons of bombs, some of which did considerable damage to Government buildings. Attackswere also made by No. 10 (Night Bomber) Squadron on the " Associated Aircraft Works" at WORMWOOD SCRUBBS. Four bombers reachedthe vicinity, where they dropped their bombs without hitting their target. Nos. 58 and 99 (Night Bomber) Squadrons also attempted raids, but had toreturn owing to the adverse weather. 4. Period 04.00 hours to 09.00 hours.—During this period six bombersquadrons, of which four were intercepted and engaged by REDLAND Fighters, made low-flying attacks on the LONDON Area. No. 35 (Bomber)Squadron successfully attacked the WEST INDIA DOCKS, dropping 1| tons of bombs on this target. It was intercepted on its outward journeyby No. Ill (Fighter) Squadron, and one bomber and one fighter were destroyed in the air fighting. No. 207 (Bomber) Squadron dropped 1 ton of bombson the REDLAND " Seat of Government," doing considerable damage. They were intercepted on the inward and again on the outward journey byNos. Ill and 29 (Fighter) Squadrons. Three bombers were destroyed and three fighters were put out of action. No. 602 (Auxiliary Air Force)Squadron attacked the BECKTON Petrol Depot, but failed to hit this target. They were engaged by No. 54 (Fighter) Squadron, which destroyed threebombers in air fighting, but in doing so lost two of their aircraft. No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron made a very successful attack on the docks (imaginary)at HACKNEY MARSHES. Two tons of bombs were dropped on this objective without loss. No. 604 (Auxiliary Air Force) Squadron also reachedthe WEST INDIA DOCKS without molestation ; six aircraft succeeded in hitting the target, dropping approximately 1 ton of bombs. No. 33(Bomber) Squadron reached the vicinity of the Depot at KIDBROOKE, but their bombing was inaccurate and no damage was done. The squadronwas engaged both on its approach to and return from the target by No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron. Two bombers and two fighters were destroyed in airfighting. From 18.00 hours to 21.30 hours, Tuesday, July 21, 1931.—1. Weather wasfair generally and visibility good in all districts. 2. Two of BLUELAND'S day bomber squadrons (Nos. 35 and 207(Bomber) Squadrons) crossed the coast at CLACTON-ON-SEA from a north-easterly direction at about 18.00 hours. Both squadrons attackedthe WEST INDIA DOCKS and dropped bombs in the vicinity. They were afterwards engaged by six aircraft of No. 54 (Fighter) Squadron overGRAVESEND. Casualties inflicted have not yet been assessed. 3. A further raid was made by fast day bombers of No. 12 (Bomber)Squadron, which crossed the coast near BOGNOR at about 18.30 hours. Interceptor aircraft of No. 43 (Fighter) Squadron from TANG.MERE tookoff in pursuit, but failed to find the attacking bombers, which were, however, unsuccessfully engaged by No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron. The bomberssucceeded in launching a low bombing attack on NORTHOLT aerodrome, but the damage done and casualties inflicted are not yet known.4. Another squadron of BLUELAND'S fast day bombers, No. 33 (Bomber) Squadron, crossed the coast at 18.30 hours near LITTLEHAMPTON. Thissquadron was engaged at LEATHERHEAD by No. 23 (Fighter) Squadron, but reached its objective, the REDLAND " Seat of Government " at THEDUKE OF YORK'S HEADQUARTERS, and effectively bombed it. 3. Two further squadrons of day bombers, Nos. 602 (City of Glasgow(Bomber) Squadron) and 604 (County of Middlesex (Bomber) Squadron) Auxiliary Air Force, reached the WEST INDIA DOCKS after having crossedthe coast at BRIGHTON at about 19.00 hours. They were attacked by No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron over BIGGIN HILL, but reached and bombedtheir objective. (6) From 21.30 hours, Tuesday, July 2(, to 04.00 hours, Wednesday, July 22,1931.—1. BLUELAND attacks on REDLAND were carried on with vigour during the night July 21-22, and, although the weather was mainly cloudy,visibility was good, 2. A series of raids was made by the BLUELAND night bombers ofNo. 99 (Night Bomber) Squadron against the " DOCKS " at HACKNEY MARSHES between 11 p.m. and midnight. Aircraft crossed the roast singlyin the neighbourhood of HASTINGS and RYE at intervals of about 10 minutes, and flew in a northerly direction to the target. The majority ofpilots reached the vicinity of the " Docks," and one succeeded in obtaining direct hits. 3. During the same period five BLUELAND bombers of Nos. 9 and 10Squadrons, acting independently, attacked the "Seat of Government" at DUKE OF YORK'S HEADQUARTERS. Two aircraft of No. 10 (NightBomber) Squadron dropped their bombs on the objective. 4. A further series of single aircraft raids at about 15 minutes intervalswas directed by No. 58 (Night Bomber) Squadron against the WEST INDIA DOCKS between midnight and 1 a.m. These bombers crossed the coastin the neighbourhood of HASTINGS. One aircraft forced landed without bombing, but two others, although intercepted by REDLAND Fighters,succeeded in hitting the target. Four more were intercepted by REDLAND Fighters from HORNCHURCHand BIGGIN HILL, but dropped their bombs in the vicinity of the target. 5. Single bomber raids by Nos. 9 and 10 Squadrons at approximately20-minute intervals between midnight and three o'clock approached from tae direction of NEWHAVEN and made for the " Associated Aircraft Works "at WORMWOOD SCRUBBS. Seven aircraft bombed the objective, after which clouds at 2,000 ft. prevented further attack. REDLAND Fightersintercepted some of these bombers. The damage caused by bombs dropped and casualties to both REDLANDfighters and BL'JELAND bombers are being assessed. 733
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