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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 1407.PDF
JUNE 26TH, 1941. FLIGHT WAR IN THE AIR and his strength, and the British forcesreduced that strength by quite a useful margin. Then they withdrew to theirown lines, content to leave the battle a draw. In this fight the R.A.F.played a most useful part. Accord- ing to carefully prepared plans, thefighters carried out an almost con- tinuous patrol over the British andImperial ground forces during the last 4fcge days' fight. The success ofthlSr patrolling was evident from the fact that enemy air forces were unableto harass our troops. Dive bombers have been particular^ inactive, andformations of Junkers have been chased from their targets and obligedto jettison their bombs. In one hour of intensive aerial activity on June 17fighters and bombers of the R.A.F. delivered a big blow to the enemy.While our bombers were attacking a concentration of enemy tanks, eightHurricanes dashed straight into a formation of German dive bomberswhich were attempting to attack British positions, and shot down atleast seven of them. Our bombers were no less successful.The pilot of an aircraft in a South African formation which was followingsome Blenheims gave a graphic description of what he saw. "It wasa grand sight," he said. "Bombers ahead of us were flying in tight forma-tion. They were above their target when in unison they released bombs.Enemy tanks and vehicles which had been stationary moved in an effort todisperse. They looked like ants vanishing away in all directions, butit was too late. Bombs burst right among them and I saw at least tourlarge tanks thrown into the air like leaves." Advance in Syria TN Syria, likewise, the R.A.F. has -^ been giving due help to the Empire forces, and also has been sending pro- tective "umbrellas" to cover the l vessels which are shelling the Vichy troops from the coast. These fighters have met German bombers and fighters, and have promptly attacked them with success. A T.S.R. of the Fleet Air Arm torpedoed an enemy vessel near Beirut. Inland, the R.A.F. bombers have been plastering the various hostile aerodromes, Rayak and others. Vichy 429- ENEMY AIR OverG.B June 1516 17 , 1819 20 „ 21 Totals 14 1 2 6 LOSSES TO Over Europe II16 9 26 62 Total i n Northern Area : 4,775. over 1,813. JUNE 21st Middle East (Incl. Syria) 3 19 320 4 4 3 56 Middle East : BISMARCK ECHO : Our new aircraft carrier H.M.S. Victorious which figuredprominently in the sinking of the Bismarck Dewoitine fighters have sometimes been encountered, and some have been shot down by our Hurricanes. It is tragic to think that now we have to fight French pilots, when only a year ago R.A.F. pilots in France were exchanging uniform buttons with officers of UAnnie de I' Air. But the gallant forces of Free France are fight- ing by our side in Syria, arid they, too, are facing up to their countrymen who serve the purpose of Gerrlra.ny by obeying the orders of Vichy. Since the above words were written the Vichy forces have evacuated Damascus, which has been entered by the troops of Free France. To give those troops the honour is a gesture which bears out the British public declaration that we seek no territory for ourselves at the expense of France. It is appropriate to recall that in 1918 Col. Lawrence and Faisul were the first to enter Damascus, but that the Mandate for Syria was given to France. The Vichy resistance in Syria has proved more stubborn than had been hoped, and the fighting in places has been fierce. The French prisoners whom we have taken have, however, often expressed sympathy with the Allied cause, though they obeyed orders to resist with the gallantry which is typical of their nation. The Foreign Legion has had no sympathies one way or the other, and has behaved as well-drilled mercenaries usually do. Germany Invades Russia THE war entered on a new phase onSunday morning, June 22, when Germany invaded Russia-without any warning. The Rumanian and Finnish armies are helping the Germans. To many in Great Britain it will be dis- tasteful to have to regard Russia as an ally, and to everyone of us it will be a very tragic necessity to have to look upon the Finns as enemies. But necessity knows no law. We must work with everybody who is resisting the German attempts at world con- quest, and we must oppose all whohelp her. We cannot blame the Finns for taking an opportunity to reversethe defeat which they suffered so recently at the hands of Russia. Duringthat struggle British sympathy was strongly on the side of Finland, andthe Finns will remember with gratitude the help which they got from BritishBulldogs and Gladiators. The Red Air Force did not exactlycover itself with credit during the attack on Finland, and now it willhave to meet the far more formidable Luftwaffe. The early stages of thestruggle will certainly include (though they will not entirely consist o,f) a keenduel between the two air forces, which it will be very interesting to study. Hitler is said to take Napoleon ashis example. He is certainly copying the great Corsican by invading Russiaafter having mastered all Continental Europe, but without having disposedof Britain. The Russian power of re- treating and leading an invader on tohis doom still remains That country ought to be unconquerable by aWestern Power; but Hitler has a mechanised army, which Napoleonhad not, and doubtless the modern aggressor believes that that will makeall the difference. We shall see. The British bombing raids onGermany and occupied France have been increased in volume and fierce-ness of late, and will grow still heavier as our equipment in the air isincreased. BRITISH AIR LOSSES TO JUNE 21ft Over G.B. Over Continent Middle East Fighters Pilots Aircraft Aircraft June 15 — — 3 5 16 — — 13 (2 pilots safe) 6 17 - _ II 918 - - 8 6 19 - - 2 4 20 - - I - 21 ' - 5(1 pilot safe) — Totals 1 "5 43 30 Total in Northern Area : 2,051, Middle E»« : about 306
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