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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0332.PDF
*3° FLIGHT FEBRUARY 12TH, 1942 hit by two, and probably three, tor pedoes, and when our aircraft left was down by the stern with a star board list and smoke pouring from it. One large and one medium-sized merchant ship on their way to North Africa with valuable supplies for the Axis forces were probably sunk by Naval torpedo-bombers in the Central Mediterranean on Friday night. On the previous night, the same pilots had torpedoed a fully laden oil tanker. The larger of the two merchant ships was last seen hove-to, listing to star board, down by the stern with smoke billowing from below decks. The second ship, which was of medium size, had also stopped, and was listing to port after the attack. The Sub-Lieutenant, who opened the attack on the larger ship, -said that after .his torpedo struck the_ vessel clouds of smoke and steam came from it. Two more pilots quickly followed up this attack. A Sub-Lieutenant scored a hit amidships and saw the merchantman settling down by the stern. There was a rough sea running in the area where the smaller vessel was located. To make sure of the target, our pilots came down to less than 30ft. from the water to- release their torpedoes. The ship stopped immediately and began to list to, port. The pilots engaged on the raids be lieve that neither" vessel could have stayed afloat for long. Attack on Singapore T^ARTHER east, at Singapore, the •*• position is somewhat clearer though giving even greater cause tor concern, for it is evident, that the fate of this important base depends on whether the substantial Allied rein forcements on their way can reach the defenders before the Japanese forces concentrating in Johore on the opposite side of the narrow straits can bring- off a successful attack. By the time these words reach the reader, the race between the Allied reinforcements and the Japanese pre parations for invasion of Singapore island may well have been won and, lost. Indeed, a landing on the west side of the island has already been reported, following artillery duels across the intervening water and in creasingly heavy air raids, most of which have been high-level attacks. It is at least a matter for some satisfaction—not to say consolation— that these raids, which have been growing in intensity since the last of WAR 1 our troops withdrew from Johore, are costing the enemy a high price in both machines and aircrews. Not only have the beleaguered island's Ack-Ack guns put up some most effective shoots, but British Hurri canes have made such exploits in creasingly expensive by vigorous interception over the Malayan main land. Blenheim • bombers, escorted by American fighters, have also attacked the Nippon invaders in Burma, and some figures for January have just been issued based on communiques from Singapore, Rangoon and Mel bourne. These show that, altho.^g. the information given is probably nor complete, the R.A.F. and.R.A.A.F. in the South-West Pacific Command have, during the month, carried out a total of 43 bombing attacks against 23 land targets, many of which have'been airfields occupied by the enemy. January's Far East " Bag " N all defensive and offensive air operations carried out by the R.A.F., the American Volunteer I A German twin-boom glider, reconstructed by a Flight artist from a photograph of a wrecked specimen left on an airfield in Libya. Of roughly 70ft. span, it should be capable of lifting some 6,000-7,000 lb. The twin-boom arrangement keeps the lifting and control surfaces entirely separate from the body and is probably used in order that specialised carrying containers can be employed for any particular work in hand. It is shown here carrying 3m. mortars and tommy guns, but it is easy to visualise other containers designed to carry men, artillery or supplies. The wheels are jettisoned after take off and a skid landing made.
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