27/1/42., No*

No 620$ Air Ministry A

OF AIR MINISTRY AND MINISTRY

There is 'nothing to report- 27.1*42 - No. 4

- Ministry Bulletin No, 6199

FOR OR USE ON CLUB .' -, .JJOT PUBLICATION, BROADCAST,. TAPES BEFORE "'"" I ' , 08..50 HOURS ON JANUARY-'27? ...1.902.?

•.■■...< THIS SHOIILD--BE', RES'rECTIJD OVERSEAS BI'RREFACING ANY ; - ’ ‘ 7*! ' ? ‘1 ' ‘ ’

A:. SENT.RImi RE3 EB.AE. .’ •, V ’>4. ... " ~ t :

t* J.-. • :i ‘ ‘* • -. .%• . -.» • i ■ • • - ;’• • •♦. .

ROYAL -AIR \ FORSA-rA'-uiRDS No.- 320 ■. .... , ■ ...

has.Been to . The-King- graciously .pleased approve the f.oil,owing-

■' i ■ • • • ' '' .. . ' V: t

’’ '• •' ,/ 'JJv 1. •. <.-• •« 7•• # * • . * ’ •. • •.a In recognition of-^gallantry.-.-displayed in flying operations ..agqinst the . . * ?

•• ..7 . -s .- , enemy;.- •-. -7-•• .. • _ t •: {

4 :;a ~ .... ;-\ ■ ■•? v.- 4 ;- ? ; ■ DISTINGUISHED FAZING CROSS .... 'k..,7 . ,\ . ~..'•

Squadron .Leader Edward Philip.Patrick GIBBS. No. 150 Squadron. .'" ‘This of fkccr has been engaged.on active,, operations, .over a. long period and has. part.icipate.d in ■'. sorties over France. a 4 7 many ...g During, ’sortie--pear Calais, in July 944,. <. Leader Gibbs involved in combat with was four enemy fighters and"shot down one and damaged another of the attackers.

Since assuming command of No. flJOr;Squadron, .-Squqdron Leader Gibbs has, by his excellent leadership and devotion ,t"o- the unit to a high standard of In operational efficiency, December 194-1, during a bombing attack on Brest, Squadron Le.ader

..attempted

r .-' ; ■-. • ’ :‘1 ■ ; vvri’w; ‘ ; - < ' " Flying Officer Peter John GUNDY,.'ilo* 120 Squadrpxi. . . ' ’,,. ...' . . . - r Pilot Officer RonaLd- Roxpurgh .PiiBEL, Royal Ait Force Volunteer Reserve'd". , . ; ' No. 120 Squadron. In January Flying Officer CUNDY and Pilot'Officer FABEL were respectively captan .and nayigqto.r. of-.a Liberator aircraft : on. patrol, in . the of 7 ■■ Bay Biscay. ' r • i ;7 - ......

A Heinkel 115 floatplane v/as encountered' and at once' ’attacked. By skilful manoeuvring,.Flying Officer .C.undy ..enabled .his gunners .to bring, effectiye fire, to

bear on the ...enemy aircraft, ‘.'which brclce.Xdff,.the. combat' and escaped .into cloud

' with one engine on fire.’ ’ ' . :.''..■.. 7i

An .tanker v/ith,.a .s.ubmaripe alongside was then sighted. ...pj-ying . enemy . it Offieer Gundy immediately-nttaqked the -suhraarine" with bombs fire' "'\ and the submarine disappeared beneath' the'surface leaving a large patch of oil.

The tanker was then...bombed and ,p.ttacked..with cannon .fire, A second .Heinkel 1 floatplane which appeared was’ engaged and driven off with smclse.’ pd'uring ’ffom'. . it. 'Flying Officer Gundy thin .resuydcd h'is '..attack on ..the. tanker ..with gtinfire ' ' and. scored, many further hits.

Throughout,- ; he ahWe'd’-gh'eat determination' and 'de-VOtiOh'--to'.:duty.Rend•. vras' ably r assisted by‘the • efficiency 'of Pilot Officer Fabely' whoj woa t occasion in bad yfehtbefi at nightwas mainly responsible for'-the-.,safe return • 0f.!.. • - his aircraft vzhen the wireless apparatus failed.

Acting Warrant Officer Thomas James MYGOCK (754-674-) Volunteer Reserve, No. 97 Squadron, One night in January 194-1, Warrant Officer Mycock was the captain of an aircraft which carried out a low level attack on

the battle cruisers Gneisenau and. Scharnhorst at Brest. The task demanded a high degree of skill and initiative and, although the night was, extremely dark, V/arrant Officer Mycock finally approaehe7'~'tKe''’'’tErge'u'' in the desired direction. In spite of heavy opposition from the enemy’s defences a daring and determined,

attack was made from a height of only 500 feet. This non-commissioned officer has at all times performed his operational tasks with great keenness and enthusiasm, (0 ont ’d) DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL

Can/R, 78203 Sergeant Charles Lome BRAY, Royal Canadian Air Force, N0.103 Squadron. Aus. 404553 Sergeant Douglas Wilberforce SPOONER, Royal Australian Air- Force, No. 103 Squadron. One night in January 1941, Sergeants Bray amd Spooner were 2nd captain and pilot respectively of an aircraft which participated in an attack on Wilhelmshaven. Sergeant Bray carried out a determined attack in spite of intense when anti-aircraft fire but, making a second run over the target, a violent explosion Shook the aircraft and an ignited flare was blown from the rear of the bomb compart- ment into the fuselage, where it set fire to the fabric# the floor and the beam gun seat. The aircraft was now brightly illuminated so that it was an easy target and, whilst held in a concentration of some 30 searchlights, was subjected to intense enemy fire. The situation began to appear hopeless, and Sergeant Bray ordered the crew to escape by parachute. He then set the controls and, when making his way to the rear of the aircraft to ensure that the crew had left safely, he observed Sergeant Spooner still battling with the flames. Serge-ant Bray thereupon returned to the control and skilfully and coolly extricated his aircraft from a perilous situation. The flare eventually burned its way through the floor of the aircraft and Sergeant Spooner, having exhausted the extinguisher,, finally'subdued the flames with his gloved hands. He then went forward and, to enable Sergeant Bray to fulfil the duties of navigator, took over the controls. Although suffering acoutely from the effects of the fumes, he flew the aircraft safely back to this country. Throughout, thes'e airmen showed great courage and set an example worthy of the highest praise,

NOTES ■ ON CAREERS ■

t *

Squadron Leader C-IBBS was bom in 1910 at Singapore. His home is at Oving, Sussex. He was educated at Beaumont House, tjleronsgate and Cranleigh School, He served in the 28th Territorial Regiment from 1928 to 1930, and was commissioned in the R.A.F. in 1932. He served in Aden on flying duties in 1935, and later as flying instructor. He transferred to the reserve in 1938 and was called out for service in November 1939* He was promoted in January 1941*

Flying Officer GUNDY was bom in, 191 6at Bognor. His home is at Diss. He held a commission in the 9th Middlesex Territorial Regiment from 1937, and was commissioned in the R.A.F, in April 1940.

•■.r • • .

Pilot Officer FABEL was born in 1917 at Ealing. His home is at High Xycombe., He was at Rossall School, and was a sergeant in the R.A.F.V.R. when he was commissioned in July 1941 as air observer.

Warrant Officer MYCOCK was bom at Prestwich, Manchester, where his home still He is. was a calico printer before enlisting as pilot in September, 1939-

Sergeant BRAY was 'born in 1919 at Bronte, Ontario. His home is at Milton West, Ontario. He enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in October, 1940, and was trained under the Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan as pilot.

Sergeant SPOONER was in 1917 at Edithvale, Victoria, His home is at Innisfail, Queensland. He was a clerk before he enlisted in the R.A.A.F. in October, 1940. He was trained as pilot under the Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan. ' 27.1.42. - No.9*

HOW U,433 WAS DESTROYED

It stated that the can now be U-boat which was destroyed by the corvette H.M.S.

MARIGOLD (Lieutenant J. Renwick, R.N.R.) on 16th November, 1941, in the area in which H.M.S. ARK ROYAL had been torpedoed only two days before, was U-433*

U-433 was a 500 tons U-boat, commanded by Oberleutnant zur sec Hans iy, iy was bom in Hanover in 1916 and his U-boat had been "adopted” by the city of Hanover. He had been awarded the Iron Cross First Class for his services in other U-boats before joining U.433.

built U-433 was by the Schichauwcrft at Danzig and was commissioned in May 1941*

' After a long period of trials U-433 sailed on her first operational cruise towards end the of August 1941. This cruise was entirely unsuccessful and at the end of it U-433 put into St. Nazaire without a single "victory pennant" flying.

On the 9th November, 1941, U-433 left St, Nazaire under sealed orders on her second and what was to prove her last operational cruise.

She was destined for the Mediterranean and passed through the Straits of Gibraltar during the night of 13th November. She spent only three days in the Mediterranean before and in had being destroyed this time not carried out a single attack.

On the of and night November 16, the sea was calm with a slight swell the visibility was about one mile when H.M.S. MARIGOLD sighted a U-boat. It is interesting to note that those on the bridge of U-433 thought that H.M.S. MARIGOLD ■was a light cruiser. of sort Mistakes this may account for.some of the exaggerated claims made the by enemy.

her to to and H.M.S. MARIGOLD put helm over try ram. U-433 crash-dived H.M.S. MARIGOLD'S first depth charges were not sufficiently close to cause damage to the U-boat. It appears that Oberleutnant zur see iy was over confident and thought that he had the situation well in hand but H.M.S. MARIGOLD continued to hunt patiently and efficiently and she completely deceived the Commanding Officer of the U-boat. About half an heur later the corvette again attacked with depth charges.

From the* evidence of iniV5X-*-vors reP orts from H.M.S. MARIGOLD the following sequence of events//the doomed U-boat can be reconstructed. The depth charges dropped by the MARIGOLD were veiy close. The U-boat heeled over and plunged deeply, leaking forward. Practically all the fittings inside the boat were broken or damaged. The high pressure air whistled through the U-boat. The switchboards of the main motors were smashed. The gyro-compass overturned. Everything in the wireless room was wrecked. The spare torpedoes broke adrift from their stowage. The men were then told to put on their life-saving apparatus, for it was obvious that U-433 was steadily going down, breaking up as she did so. • As a last resort, the main ballast tanks were blown to bring the crippled U-boat to the surface.

As s.uon as the U-boat had been forced to the surface, H.M.S. MARIGOLD opened fire with her guns, but it at once became clear that the U-boat was being abandoned and was sinking, 38 of the total complement of 44 of U-433 were rescued from the water and are now prisoners of war. Among them is the Commanding Officer of the U-boat.

The crew of U-433 was somethjjjg of a mixture,' Her Commanding Officer and some of and but several the officers and men were experienced determined men among them were who with men were typical Hitler U-boat fodder no experience and very little intelligence.

ADMIRALTY/ S,W,I. 2J. No. 10

Air Ministry No. 6206

AIR ministry; COMMUNIQUE

Last night Bomber Command aircraft attacked objectives at Hanover and Emden in force, and bombed other places in North West ' Germany. ’ >

Another force bombed the docks at Brest,

Three of our aircraft are mi ssing,

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> 27/1/42 - No# 14*

PRESS NOTICE

A White Paper has been presented to parliament today publishing- the text of three Agreements concluded between the prime Minister and the president of the United States of America, setting up Bodies to deal with Munitions Assignments, Shipping Adjustment and Raw Materials#

The appointment of the following representatives on these Boards in London and Washington has been announced today.

Munitions Assignments Board#

Washington*. United States - Mr. Harry L. Hopkins (Civilian Chairman) London: - Lord Beaverbrook

Combined Shipping Adjustment Board.

Washington: United States - Admiral Emery S.Land

United Kingdom - Sir Arthur Salter.

London: United Kingdom - Lord Leathers

Combined Raw Materials Board.

Washington: United States - Mr. Wm.L.Batt.

United Kingdom - Sir Clive Baillieu.

London; United Kingdom - Lord Beaverbrook.

10, Downing Street. 27/1/42 No: 15

DEHYDRATED ONIONS

Pre-war importers of dehydrated onions are asked to furnish the Ministry of Food with a certified statement giving the total net weight of dehydrated onions imported by them in the twelve months ended August 31, 1939, and the countries of origin*

An is deemed to be firm who sold >• importer any person, or company dehydrated onions in the first instance after landing in his or their name on a c.i.f. or f.o»b, basis.

The statement should be sent to the Ministry of Food, Fresh Fruit 1 and'Vegetables Branch, St. John © College, Oxford, on or before February 7, 1942.

MINISTRY OF FOOD 27.1.42. ‘ No. J 7

FAR EAST V4IR CO<,UNIQUE

Singapore, Tuesday, January 27.

Despite determined, attacks made by aircraft of the Far East Command the succeeded on an enemy convoy of Endau yesterday enemy in effecting a landing of a force and some transport,

hit Our bombers obtained one direct on an enemy cruiser, 12 of stores direct hits on a troop transport and another on a large dump on the beach. Near misses were also observed near the cruiser and transport and in addition barges and landing craft were heavily machine** gunned.

The enemy landing operations were covered by large numbers of shore based fighters which were engaged by our fighters.

Twelve enemy fighters were destroyed, while two others were probably destroyed and two damaged.

Cur forces in this area are in contact with the enemy north of Jemaluang.

Tn the centre, south of Kluang and Ayer Hitam, the enemy has supported his infantry with continuous dive-bomb and machine-gun attacks the is directed chiefly against movement on roads. Fighting in progress in these areas.

In the west fighting is taking place about Seng Arang in which both British and Indian troops are engaged.

Enemy aircraft raided Singapore yesterday causing some military damage and a few casualties,

A single enemy aircraft flew over Singapore last night and dropped bombs which caused some damage and a few casualties.

Enemy aircraft again raided Singapore this morning, causing some damage.

not Full details today’s raids are yet available.-

A. A. defences in Malaya have to date shot down the following enery aircraft - 60 certain, 21 probable.

WAR OFFICE - No. 21

Air Ministiy No, 6207

MIDDLE EAST COMMUNIQUE

H..Q, ,R.A.F., , January 27'j 1942

In spite of severe sandstorms our fighter aircraft wore extremely active over the entire battle area in Libya yesterday (January 26). Intensive and highly successful machine-gunning attacks were carried out on enemy tanks, armoured cars and motorised units moving along the desert tracks leading from Msus to Charruba, Soluch, Saunnu and Antelat. Many enemy vehicles 'were completely destroyed or severely damaged and many fires were seen to break out. In addition heavy casualties wore inflicted on enemy troops. During these operations our aircraft destroyed

a Macchi 200.

During Sunday night (25/26 January) our bomber aircraft raided

forces in - Fires enemy the Jedabya, El Aghcila Antelat areas. and explosions were seen to follow these attacks.

One of our aircraft is missing. 27,1<42 - N0.25

CANADA’S FINANCIAL HELP

has with Since the outbreak of war Canada supplied us has aeroplanes, munitions, foodstuffs and raw materials. Canada for many months past accepted payment in sterling for these supplies in this and had thus up to JOth November last accumulated country of million This balance will be a sterling balance over £l5O • converted into a Canadian dollar loan which will be non-interest bearing till the close of the war.

Canada’s deliveries to us are continuing on an even greater scale. A part of the cost of these deliveries will be met with Canadian dollars obtained through the repatriation to Canada of Canadian Government securities and Canadian National Railway securities owned by the residents in the United Kingdom, This will than provide some Can,s3oo million but will not suffice for more

a few months. In order to ensure the even flow of deliveries for a year or more the Canadian Government have offered to make a free contribution to us of munitions of war, raw materials and foodstuffs up to an amount of Can.sl,ooo million, equivalent to some £225 million.

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 27/1/42 - No. 26

QUEEN WILHELMINA TO CALL IMPERIAL CONFERENCE AFTER THE WAR

.. ■ ■ : .. ' , ■ l

H.M. Queen Wilhelmina of the has decided to call an Imperial

Conference after the v/ar, as soon as circumstances permit. This Conference will be in the nature of a round table conference. It will formulate recommendations on constitutional refoxms: .affecting the relationships between the Netherlands, the Netherlands East Indies and the Netherlands West Indies (Surinam and Curacao).

The Conference will comprise distinguished representatives from the four parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. They will represent the various creeds and schools of thought in those territories.

This Imperial Conference will consist of fifteen representatives of the Netherlands, fifteen of the Netherlands East Indios, three of Surinam and throe of Curacao.

Although the Conference will not moot until the Netherlands arc freed from enemy occupation, it has been decided not to delay the appointment of the of the and West will these representatives East Indios* This enable t representatives to commence at an early date their studios and preparations.

The Conference will concern itself with the relationships between the Mother Country and the overseas’ territories. These relationships are now based on the Netherlands Constitution of 1922. Since that date, the cultural and material development of the overseas’ territories, especially of the Netherlands East Indies, have made very rapid progress. It had been felt for some years, both in the Netherlands and in the Netherlands East and West Indios, that a revision was duo. The Netherlands overseas* territories, especially the Netherlands East Indies, by their loyalty and excellent policy since the occupation of the Mother Country, arc giving proof of their ability to stand, on their own feet. This lias naturally stimulated the tendency towards emancipation in ever widening circles of the populations.

H. M. Queen Wilhelmina had accounced Her intention to call this Imperial

Conference in a broadcast as the 10th early as May, 1941 •

As to the way in which the representatives of the Netherlands East ord West Indies will be appointed, five of the fifteen members of the Netherlands East Indian Delegation will be nominated directly by the Netherlands East Indian Government. Ten members will be appointed by this Government from a recommendation of twenty names to be submitted by the House of Assembly in Batavia. A similar system will be followed with regard to Surinam and Curacao, where one representative sill be nominated directly by the Governor, and two will be chosen from a list of four names to be submitted by the local Parliamentary Institutions.

The Imperial Conference will be free to express all wishes and opinions concerning the constitutional issues involved and to make recommendations accordingly.

FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF NETHERLANDS (X)VERNMENT INFORMATION BUREAU. 27/1/42 - Nrf* 27

GENERAL FEDERATION OF TR/iDES UNIONS

of the Board a Lord Soulbury, Chairman Assistance > received, deputation fro’m the General Federation of Trades Unions at Vicarage House today regarding supplementary pensions for old age pensioners. The deputation consisted of Mr* Lee, President, Mr. Bell, Secretary, Mr* Taylor, Vice Chairman, and Messrs, Moulded and Wright,

The deputation presented a memorandum drawing attention to certain objections to the scheme as it stood and urging reconsideration

understood. He said that he was most anxious that the Board’s administration should be sympathetic and humane and explained the steps they were taking in regard to welfare, He undertook to look into certain cases mentioned by the deputation* The deputation then withdrew, after thanking Lord Soulbury for receiving them*

ASSISTANCE BOARD,

VICARAGE HOUSE* 27.1.42 No .28

Air ministry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No .6208

THE R.A.F. OVER HANOVER AND EMDEN

Last night our bomber crews found C-ernany a frozen landscape. said On their way they saw patches of ice on the Auyder Zee, and., the navigator of a "Wellington, "even the shallow water along whole stretches of the coast appeared to be frozen. This made the usually familiar outline of the shore hard to recognize."

Inland lakes were frozen, and the noon was reflected on the the ice. Here and there the rivers and roads showed up against surrounding whiteness, while the black patches which were woods and towns helped our .navigators to their targets.

At Emden and Hanover - the two main objectives of the night*s

- and attack searchlights, flares the bright moon combined to throw the a strange light on snow.

Two of our aircraft successfully came through encounters with

enemy night fighters. One enemy, a Junkers 88 opened fire at 200 yards and then closed to 50 yards still firing. Our rear gunner replied with two well-aimed bursts, and fragments fell away from

the enemy’s vang. The Junkers turned steeply to starboard, went into a spiral dive, and disappeared in cloud below,

The second encounter was apparently more decisive. This time

the enemy - a Messerschmitt 110 - wan given no chance to fire. It it passed below our aircraft at no more that 15 yaxds. When turned to attack, the bomber’s rear gunner opened fire at a range of only 20 yards. The Messerschmitt wavered: our front gunner fired, and the fighter fell away vertically, 27/1/42 - No. . 30

FREE FRENCH'AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

<• The Free French National Committee makes the follovdLiig

communication: -

•Thilo uhe r.-’u./ ' ‘vhich j/t ior de liberation are

While the which for world .liberation are powers are struggling ... at grips with the Japanese aggressor in the Pacific/ Admiral Decoux, Vichy dictator in Indo China, has called upon the population of the Pacific Islands which have rallied to Free France to revolt against • the Free French authorities.

•■Not content with having abandoned Indo China to Japan the men of Vichy would also like to surrender the other French possessions in the Pacific to .Japan in order to help her to attack the French nation and her Allies.

. v No clearer light can be shed on the anti-national character of a the government whose every act is an attack on interestsof France and an insult to her feelings.

The Free French National Committee which exercises French sovereignty in the territories in question and the populations concerned,

can only be.’strengthened in their determination to help by every means in the liberation of France and the ultimate triumph of the Allies,

FREE FRENCH HEADQUARTERS 27/1/42 - No >3l

’’FREEZING” OF CIVIL DEFENCE WORKERS

The Ministry of Home Security issues the following statement about the ’’freezing” of part-time Civil Defence workers:-

1. The circular issued to local authorities on the 22nd January made it clear that hours of duty should be fixed with full regard to the obligations which most part-time Civil Defence workers have as employed persons or in domestic life and that the service requirements should wherever possible be adjusted to moot these day-to-day responsibilities of the individual members. The general standard will be a maximum of 48 hours* duty in each period of four weeks, but authorities have been asked expressly to take due account of personal circumstances such as exceptional pressure of war work or domestic hardship.

2. After the open period of t//o weeks during which resignations may be submitted, part-time members can apply for their services to be dispensed with. • In considering these submissions Local Authorities will pay due regard to individual circumstances and needs, and there will if required be a right of appeal by the individual to the Regional Commissioner,

MINISTRY OF HOW SECURITY « - . 27.1.42 No. <32.

NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST, OR USE ON CLUB TAPES BEFORE 01.00 B.S.T (i.e. FOR MORNING PAPERS) ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28.

THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING ANY MESSAGES

PILED WITH THE EMBARGO.

SIMULTANEOUS PUBLICATION ARRANGED IN SINGAPORE.

COLONIAL SECRETARY, STRAITS SETTIEMENTS.

Mr, Hugh Fraser, Federal Secretary, Federated Malay has been appointed to act as Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements, in place of Mr. S.W. Jones, C.M.G., who is proceeding to the United Kingdoms

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COLONIAL OFFICE