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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0822.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 31, 1931 9way into the target, and should not be in the best fettlefor meeting a determined attack by a fresh squadron offighters. It has been proved during the War that heavy tolltaken of bombers on their way Home has a very discouragingeffect on an enemy. Certainly it is better to intercept themon their way in ; but it is the sum total of losses in ashort time which convinces the enemy that bombingLondon is a game which is not •worth the candle. AIR MINISTRY COMMUNIQUES. (6)Summary of Operations from 18.00 hours, July 21 to 09.00 hours, July 22,1931.—1. Yesterday the weather was fair generally and visibility was good,but last night the sky became overcast, and this morning the clouds at someplaces were lower than 2,000 ft. Visi- bility was good ; the wind was light.First Phase—6.0 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. 2. At about 6 p.m., two squadrons of BLUELAND day bombers (Nos. 35and 207) crossed the coast at CLACTON-ON-SEA and made for the WEST INDIA DOCKS. No. 207 (Bomber) Squadron dropped half a ton of bombsin the vicinity of the docks, but after doing so was attacked by REDLAND fighters of No. 54 (Fighter) Squadron over GRAVESEND. Each side lostone aircraft in the combat. No. 35 (Bomber) Squadron reached the objective. 3. No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron belonging to BLUELAND crossed the coastnear BOGNOR about 6.15 p.m. and attacked NORTHOLT AERODROME from a low height, dropping two tons of bombs. Immediately after theattack the bombers were intercepted by REDLAND aircraft of No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron, who wore, however, unable to inflict any casualties.No. 43 (Fighter) Squadron, one of REDLAND'S fast-climbing interceptor squadrons, left the ground at TANGMERE, but failed to catch the raiders.4. Another BLUELAND squadron of fast day bombers (No. 33 (B) Squadron) came in at 6.30 p.m. by way of LITTLEHAMPTON and GUILD-FORD. It was attacked near LEATHERHEAD by REDLAND fighters of No. 23 (Fighter) Squadron, who shot down one bomber ; one REDLANDfighter was destroyed. The bombers reached their objective, the REDLAND "Seat of Government" at DUKE OF YORK'S HEADQUARTERS, anddropped 1J tons of bombs on their target with considerable accuracy. 5. Two raiding squadrons of day bombers (Nos. 602 and 604) crossed thecoast near BRIGHTON at 7 o'clock. As they approached CROYDON they were attacked by nine REDLAND fighters of No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron,three bombers being destroyed or forced to land. Three REDLAND fighters were shot down and the bombers proceeded to their objective, the WESTINDIA DOCKS, where they dropped 1^ tons of bombs. On the way back to their base, the bombers were again attacked by REDLAND'S aircraftof No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron, and suffered four further casualties. This action cost the fighter squadron the loss of three aircraft. Second Phase—9.30 p.m., July 21 to 4 a.m., July 22.6. No. 58 (Bomber) Squadron of BLUELAND night bombers made seven attempts to reach the WEST INDIA DOCKS between 10.15 p.m. andshortly after midnight. Of these, one forced-lauded before crossing the coastline, and would in reality have been lost in the sea ; actually it landedat MANSTON. Three bombers were attacked on the way in. and of these two were shot down by four aircraft of No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron and byaircraft of No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron near BIGGIN HILL and SEVENOAKS, respectively. The third was attacked by one aircraft of No. 54 (Fighter)Squadron, reached the vicinity of the target, but failed to identify it accurately, dropping half a ton of bombs in the vicinity of the DOCKS. Two raidersreached the objective, bombed accurately, and dropped between them 1^ tons of bombs. Of these, one was engaged by one aircraft of No. 54(Fighter) Squadron, and the second by one aircraft of No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron, neither being damaged. The seventh raider failed to approachthe objective. 7. A BLUF.LAND night bomber squadron (No. 99) made six raids by singleaircraft on the imaginary DOCKS at HACKNEY MARSHES. Four were attacked on their way in, and one on the way out. Of these, the umpiresassessed that one was shot down. Three aircraft failed to identify their target, and of the remaining three one bombed accurately, the other twohaving errors of 500 and 1,000 yards. A ton of high explosive and 3 cwt. of ncendiary bombs werr dropped. " LET ME GET AT THEM " : A " Bulldog " ofNo. 23 (F.) Squadron off on receipt of a raid warning. (FLIGHT Photo.) 8. No. 10 (Bomber) Squadron • adefive single raids against the REDI. Njpj " Seat of Government," DUKE OFYORK'S HEADQUARTERS, between 10.15 p.m. and 10.35 p.m., and flvpagainst the " ASSOCIATED AIRCR \PT WORKS " at WORMWOOD SCRUBBSbetween 12.15 a.m. and 2.15 a.m. \ll raids crossed the coast near SHORE-HAM and none was intercepted, all five bombers reaching the REDLAND Head-quarters, on or near which over 2 tons of bombs were dropped. Only three ofthe five reached the " ASSOCIATED AIRCRAFT WORKS." These threedropped 2 tons of high-explosive bombs together with 3 cwt. of incendiary bombson the works. 9. No. 9 (Bomber) Squadron (BLUE-LAND) carried out nine raids by single aircraft, six on the " ASSOCIATEDAIRCRAFT WORKS " at WORM- WOOD SCRUBBS between 10.15 p.m.and 1.45 a.m., and three on the Head- quarters of the REDLAND Governmentbetween 10.45 and 11.45 p.m. The coast was crossed either at RYE orBRIGHTON. Of the raids on WORMWOODSCRUBBS, two were not intercepted. Of the remaining four, two were attackedon the way in by REDLAND aircraft of No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron, and over the targets by an unidentified fighter. One bomber and one fighter weredestroyed in these combats. The remaining bomber was attacked on the return journey, both bomber and fighter being shot down. The weight ofbombs dropped on WORMWOOD SCRUBBS was 2J tons of high-explosive, and 3 cwt. of incendiary bombs.Of the bombers which attacked the REDLAND Headquarters, one forced-landed at KENLEY and the aircraft was lost, the pilot's maps fallinginto enemy hands. Another was attacked on the inward journey by an aircraft of No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron, and did not reach the objective. Athird bombed the Headquarters, but bombing accuracy is doubtful. On the return journey it was attacked by two REDLAND aircraft, and all threeaircraft were shot down. The total weight of bombs dropped on REDLAND Headquarters was half a ton. Third Phase—4 a.m. to 9 a.m., July 22.10. Nine fast BLUELAND aircraft of No. 33 (Bomber) Squadron crossed the coast at SELSEY at 5.30 a.m. to attack NORTHOLT aerodrome. Overthe objective an attempted attack on the bombers was made by nine aircraft of No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron. This attack was ineffective as the Fighterswere unable to close. One tighter was shot down by the bombers as it was leaving the ground, and one bomber was hit by aerodrome ground defencesand forced to land. Two tons of bombs were dropped. 11. The other fast BLUELA.ND bomber Squadron (No. 12) also crossedthe coast at SELSEY, and at 7.15 a.m. attacked NORTHOLT aerodrome. They were not intercepted on their way in, but were attacked over theaerodrome by nine aircraft of No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron. In the course of the fighting, one bomber was destroyed, and one forced to land, while twofighters were destroyed. One and a-half tons of bombs were dropped. 12. Turing the period 6 p.m., July 21, to 9 a.m., July 22, six raids wereattempted by day bombers ; all six of these were engaged on their way in or their way out, .but owing to low speeds of some of the fighters comparedto the bombers engaged, not all of these attacks were \b\c to inflict casualties. In all, 31 attacks were made after dark by night bombers ; of these, 16were attacked by REDLAND fighters either on their way in or their way out. 13. In order to test the extent to which the defence is liable to confusion,owing to the fact that our own bombers may be passing over the defended area at the same time as the enemy, certain squadrons and flights haverepresented friendly bombers, on their way out to or on their return from imaginary objectives outside ENGLAND. The following raids were represented through the observer area :—No. 26 (Army Co-operation) Squadron provided six aircraft to represent day raids returning. Three aircraft flew from LYMPNE to ALTON,representing a raid returning to NETHERAVON, and a further three from MANSTON to GREAT DUNMOW representing a raid returning to BICES-TER. No. 463 (Torpedo Bomber) Flight with a formation of five aircraft, flew from TANGMERE to ODIHAM, representing a raid returning by dayto BICESTER. By night two aircraft of No. 502 (Ulster) (Bomber) Squadron flew courses from SUDBURY to MANSTON representing outgoing raidsfrom BIRCHAM NEWTON. No. 503 (County of Lincoln) (Bomber) Squadron represented three night raids from WORTHY DOWN, going outvia Hove, and a further three passing out over WORTHING ; they also represented raids returning to WORTHY DOWN by two aircraft fromWORTHING and one from HOVE. AFTER THE FIGHT: Refilling the tanks of the fighter "Harts" of No. 23 (F.) Squadronafter a 15 minutes combat with No. 33 (B.) Squadron. (FLIGHT Photo.) 768
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