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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 1837.PDF
SEPTEMBER 7TH, 1944 WAR IN THE AIR task before the Russians will be accordingly eased. The Ruhr also comes in periodically for attention from Bomber Command, and oil is a favourite target. The recent attack on the synthetic oil works at Homberg-Meerbeck calls for especial notice because it was made in daylight, and the Halifaxes were escorted by Spitfires. Not a single bomber was lost. Coastal's Part AN important part in the battle for •**• the French ports, especially the U-boat bases in the Brest Peninsula, has been played by R.A.F. Coastal Command working in the closest co operation with the Royal Navy. Immediately the fall of these ports appeared imminent, Coastal Com mand aircraft, together with surface vessels, threw a ring around then\. They thus prevented the beleaguered garrisons from obtaining reinforce ments either of men or materials. In addition, by destroying a large pro portion of the enemy's minesweeper fleet operating in the Bay of Biscay, air and surface craft prevented the movement of U-boats and other Ger man shipping. In the last three weeks Mosquitos, Beaufighters and Halifaxes have made nearly 300 attacks on nearly 150 separate targets from Ostend to Bor deaux. As a result of these attacks over 30 enemy vessels have been sunk, damaged or set on fire. In the Channel, Avengers and Swordfish of the Fleet Air Arm operating under R.A.F. Coastal Com mand have scored several successes against E-boats operating both with torpedoes and mines. Two Do 217s have been destroyed and two others damaged by R.A.F. Coastal Command Mosquitos engaged on anti-shipping operations. One particularly successful attack was carried out against a heavily armed escort vessel "which, in the words of a "strike" pilot, was " bristling with guns." After she had been attacked and left in flames by a force of Beaufighters, a Halifax directed a Naval force to the scene. j3?ffe warships then BALLISTICS GONE WRONG. The business end of a rocket-driven bomb, presumably launched from Peenemiinde, which landed at Backebo in Sweden. The Swedes report that it was radio controlled. shelled and torpedoed the enemy vessel. Many of the crew were seen to dive into the sea. After signalling "ship abandoned," the Halifax exchanged mutual con gratulations with the Naval force. On the following day, the Beaufighters attacked with rocket and cannon two more heavily armed escort vessels, scoring direct hits on both ships. Reconnaissance pictures revealed that one of these was definitely sunk, and that the other was still burning. Despite heavy flak from shore bat teries, R.A.F. Coastal Command '' strike'' aircraft equipped with rockets, bombs, cannon and machine- guns, have also attacked concentra tions of enemy shipping seeking the safety of harbours. In a recent message to Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Coastal Command, Sir Bertram H. Ramsey, K.C.B.. K.B.E., Allied Naval Com mander - in - Chief, Expeditionary Forces, said that the Command's anti- shipping operation "must have added a further unwelcome burden to the enemy's already overloaded transport systems, while your aircraft so harried the enemy's coastal forces that they did not inflict the damage to our con voys which might otherwise have been expected." Mr. Churchill also sent Sir Sholto a congratulatory message. Bomber Command, which dropped a record total of 65,000 tons during 30 days and 26 nights of August, also did a particularly useful piece of work in the " discouragement " of the Huns bottled up in Brest, when Lancasters carried out an afternoon attack on the uncompleted French battleship Cle- menceau, in the harbour. This effec tively scotched any idea they may have had of moving the vessel and sinking it in the entrance of the Rade Abri. LATERAL INSTABILITY : A Lancaster which recently came home minus both ailerons. The photographs below are close-ups of the gaps left on the port and starboard wings. 1
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