Page 58
3
t
I
1
1
S
t
1
GN+
d
t
1.
e
le
it
re
re
d
y's
ce
e;
ve
ur
ft
Te.
on
rs
A
dy
ay.
ck
Page 58
11
oil targets at Hamburg and Ostermoor, and on the 7th/8th June 24 Hampdens attacked similar objectives at Hanover. On both these raids substantial damage is believed to have been done to the main target, and successful attacks were also made on enemy aerodromes in North Germany and on the Frisian Islands.
North Sea and Coastal Operations.
53. Operations in the Southern part of the North Sea have been of less. intensity than during the previous period, though a good deal of work was done in the earlier part of the week in the search for stragglers of the force evacuated from Dunkirk, and for enemy M.T.B's. Numerous attacks were made on enemy M.T.B's and during the night the 12th/13th June Boulogne Harbour was raided by six Hudsons in co-operation with aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm, when one M.T.B. was probably destroyed and two others damaged. Direct hits were obtained on five barges and also on railway sidings and tracks near the harbour.
54. Heavy units of the enemy's fleet have been active in the North and, in consequence of rumours that the Germans had landed in Iceland, an air reconnaissance was carried out by a Sunderland on the 8th June, but nothing was found. The Norwegian Coast was also repeatedly searched and on the 10th June Scharnhorst and other enemy warships were seen in Trondheim and Montjham Fjords and a considerable number of merchant ships at various points along the coast. The aerodrome at Voss was seen to be nearing completion, but recon- naissance for other new aerodromes revealed no important developments. One of our aircraft bombed oil tankers and the oil refinery at Thamshaven and set them on fire.
55. On the 11th June a morning reconnaissance by three Blenheims found the enemy forces still in Trondheim Fjord and, as already described, they were attacked by twelve Hudsons, which dropped a salvo of bombs in pattern over the target. It is believed that the two cruisers and the large merchant vessel were hit. One Hudson was hit by an anti-aircraft shell and another was shot down by enemy fighters; the rest returned safely. One aircraft bombed the wireless station at Utsire and scored a near miss, which damaged the wireless hut. (Another successful attack was made against the ships on the night of the 12th/13th June by aircraft from H.M.S. Ark Royal.)
56. On the night of the 8th-9th June eight Beauforts of Coastal Command attacked the oil depot at Ghent, which had previously been damaged; numerous hits were made and large fires were started. On the night of the 12th-13th June a sortie was made by twelve Hudsons to attack targets round Bergen. Three hits were secured on anti-aircraft batteries and one on a merchant vessel in the Fjord. On the same night four Beauforts attacked the aerodrome at Vaernes, and scored direct hits on aircraft and barracks.
57.
Minelaying was carried out nightly throughout the week.
58. During the week 210 routine and 293 special patrols were flown by Coastal Command and there were 117 sorties for convoy escort; our losses amounted to ten aircraft.
59. As described in the Naval Situation, during the evacuation of Narvik all our remaining fighters, including the Hurricanes, were successfully flown on to H.M.S. Glorious. All were, of course, subsequently lost.
Attacks on Italy.
60. During the night the 11th-12th June twelve Wellingtons were detailed to operate against objectives in North Italy from aerodromes in Southern France, but the operation was cancelled. Thirty-six Whitleys operated from this country, refuelling at Jersey en route. Bad weather conditions were encountered, and fifteen aircraft returned without bombing, on account of technical trouble or because they failed to identify their targets; one Whitley is missing. Of the remainder, nine bombed Turin and two Genoa. Both towns were brilliantly illuminated, although Turin was blacked out at the approach of the bombers; anti-aircraft fire at Turin was intense, but extremely inaccurate. The Ansaldo works and the docks were hit at Genoa; at Turin the main objective was the Fiat works, and great damage was caused to buildings and to railway nearby.
[21406]
C
47
Page 58
Page 58
Page 58