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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0388.PDF
*5* WAR IN THE AIR ENEMY AIR LOSSES TO FEB. 14th. Feb. 8 „ 9 ., 10 ,.' II ., 12 .. 13 ,. 14 Totals : Over C.B. 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 North Over Continent 1 0 0 0 18 1 0 20 Middle Far East East 4 7 3 18 0 0 2 5 7 2 S 4 21 0 42 36 5 644; Middle East, over 3,499 ; Far East 227. scattered and escaped from the pastern end of the Channel, and when last seen that afternoon were making for their ports in the Heligoland Bight. Fifteen German fighters were shot down by our fighter escort and at least three more by our bombers. We lost 16 fighters, six Swordfish, five machines of Coastal Command, and 15 of Bomber Command—a total of 42 machines. In a fight like this in the Channel, when the British authorities were evidently caught unprepared and had to throw in all available resources, re gardless of whether they were the ideal best, grievous losses were to be ex pected. The first striking force was a formation of six Swordfish, led by Lt. Cdr. E. Esmonde, D.S.O., who had only a few days before been decorated by the King for the part which he played in leading his squadron off the flight deck of H.M.S. Victorious to attack the Bismarck. That time his Swordfish reduced the enemy's speed and so led to the destruction of the great battleship. This time conditions were ve.rv • BURMESE HIGHWAYMEN : Refuelling a Tomahawk of the American Volunteer Group who are fighting on behalf of the Chinese in defence of the Burma Road supply line. The machines carry the international marking of China. different, and not one of the six Sword- fish came back. Five men from their crews were picked up, some wounded, but their gallant leader was not among the survivors. A squadron of Coastal Beauforts, led by Sqn. Ldr. W. H. Cliff, had better fortune. They claimed three hits, and did not lose a single aircraft. Bomb-carrying Hurricanes took part in the attack, though their missiles would not have much effect on the big ships, and they probably only attacked the escort vessels. •An officer who led the motor torpedo boats gave a broadcast account of the share in the fight taken by his flotilla, and bore testimony to the relief which the boats' experienced when British fighters appeared over head and distracted the attention of the German fighters from the sea craft. During the action, between 200 and 300 British fighters went up, while the air striking ' force consisted of between 200 and 300 bombers, including torpedo aircraft. Not one of our motor torpedo boats or destroyers was lost, though naturally damage was suffered. ' - It seems certain that the three big German ships were damaged, for all reduced speed, and when they reached the open North Sea they scattered to present less concentrated targets, but they all made good their escape. Some of the torpedo hits were probably made by the heavy weapons of the surface craft, which do far more damage than the air torpedoes. The Fall of Singapore Tj'OR some time past the feeling has -1- been general that Singapore must fall, and one cannot help a feeling of relief that the unfortunate inhabitants have been relieved from the inferno of bombing and shelling to which they have recently been subjected. The squadrons of the R.A.F. and R.A:A.F,^ were evidentlv withdrawn from thJ*"' island some time ago, and have been operating from bases in the Nether lands East Indies. Anxiety must now be felt for those Dutch islands, and the " scorched earth '' policy which has been pursued will deprive the forces of the united nations of their chief oil supplies. But Japan's success can only be temporary. She cannot hold out indefinitely against British and American power. BUMPED OFF—Nearly : The bomb bay of a low-flying Hudson which h&tfle water while on patrol along the Atlantic coast of France. The wireless operatof sent out an SOS, but the pilot managed to nurse the aircraft back to 'Sase.
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