28/9/40.
 MINISTRY OF INFORMATION


 NEWS BULLETIN NO. 122




 SAVING IN ULSTER.


 The total amount raised in Northern Ireland up to date by sale of Ulster

Savings Certificates and Defence Bonds amounts to £3,126,495, made up as
follows:- Savings Certificates: £1,800,595 Defence Bonds:



 There are now 1171 Savings Groups in Northern Ireland. - Issued by the
Dominions and Colonial Offices Press Section. M.0.1. 1.



 WOMENS TRAINING


 The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces in view of the

importance of stimulating the training of women in various branches of the

engineering trade for war work, the Minister of Labour and National Service has

arranged with the Central Electricity Board for the release on apart time
basis of Miss Caroline Haslett, C.B.E. to act as advisor to the Ministry on
womens training. Miss Haslett is President of the Womens Engineering Society.
Ministry of Labour and National Service. M. 0.1. 2.



 COMPOUND AND MIXED FEEDING STUFFS.


 The Minister of Food has made an Order which comes into operation on

October 7th amending the Compound and Mixed Feeding Stuffs (Control) (No. 2)
Order, 1940. (S.R a
 &0. No. 1119)» The principal effect of the Amending
Order is to prohibit the use of wheat in compound and mixed feeding stuffs other

than poultry foods and also to prohibit the manufacture of wheat provender
mixture and flaked or rolled wheat mixture. This has been done to ensure that
the reduced proportion of home-grown millable wheat, which may now be used for

feeding purposes, is reserved for poultry.

 Minor changes have also been made in the technical details relating to the

composition of the prescribed compound and mixed feeding stuffs. In the case

of compounds these changes include an amendment of the permitted oil content
of certain compounds; the restriction of the use of dried milk products as

feeding stuffs to calf gruels and baby chick food; restriction on the use of
 I
cocoa residues and the inclusion of licensed molassed feeding stuffs’,
distillery dreg meal, kaffir corn and tares, as permitted ingredients in the
preparation of compounds. A licence is still, however, necessary to manufacture

molassed feeding stuffs. The permitted mineral content of certain compounds
has also been amended, e.g., the alteration in the salt content of national

poultry foods, other than national baby chick food, will allow the addition of

approximately one-half per cent of free salt when the compounds are made from
normal materials.


 In the case of cereal mixtures both maximum and minimum proportions of the
ingredients are now specified and barley may be substituted for whole wheat
in national poultry corns. -
 Ministry of Food.. M.0.1. 3.
"PRESSENSOR."




AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN No. 1845 28/9/40 -
 No. 1.


 AIR MINISTRY AND MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY COMMUNIQUE



 Enemy air attacks during last night were again directed

mainly against London.


 Bombs were dropped in many parts of the Capital and its
suburbs and in surrounding Damage was caused to houses,
 areas.
to commercial and industrial premises and other buildings. Fires
caused by incendiary bombs were all brought under control, most
of them being Quickly extinguished. A number of casualties has
been reported.


 On Merseyside, some houses were damaged and a small number
of casualties has been reported. Bombs which fell in other parts
of South Lancashire did very little damage.

 In several Midland towns some damage was done to houses and

buildings, but the casualties resulting were few.


 Bombs were also dropped in several districts between London
and the south coast, in certain areas in south-west England and
in some other localities. In all these areas the great majority of
the bombs did no harm, but in some few places houses were damaged.
The number of casualties reported from all these areas is smalls


 At about nightfall last night a few bombs were dropped in
East Scotland, but no damage or casualties have been reported.

 The total number of enemy aircraft destroyed yesterday
was 133. One of our pilots previously reported missing is now known
to be safe.
 28/9/40 - No. 2.

AIR MINISTRY No. 1847.



 AIR MINISTRY COWUNIQUE


 Last night R.A.F. bombers carried out large scale attacks
on enemy invasion ports. Other forces of aircraft attacked
communications in Western Germany.


 NOTE: This was read as a “flash” earlier in the
 day. It is now issued as a communique.
 28.9.40 - No. 3.


 GIFTS FOR AIRCRAFT.


 The Minister of Aircraft Production acknowledges with

gratitude the following gifts towards the purchase of aircraft:



 Mrs. M. Crawford, Orston Lodge,
 Old Farm Road, Hampton, Middlesex
 ”
 (Spitfire to be called Mabel”) *.




 People of the New Forest ..£5,000.

MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION.
Press Notice.



 OLD GRAMOPHONE RECORDS AS WAR MATERIAL,


 Used gramophone records can be converted into valuable war material -
and Britain ought to be salving about 6,000,000 records a
 year.


 According to an expert, who for ten years has been collecting old
records from all parts of the the normal output of new records is
 world,
about 25,000,000 a
 year.


 This man, a
 contractor, has been collecting 2,000,000 of these records -




about 400 tons -
 annually.


 ”1 do not think,” he said today, "that a quarter of the current output
can be salved, but for years records have accumulated, while there are still

many sources untapped.


 “Most of these records, after use, can be
 milled, treated with fresh

material, and in their new form used again for repressing as records or

for components of certain war materials.”


 The new material is actually shellac substitute, which is used in the
production of things like plastics. From these substances are made the
light control handles needed for aircraft, dashboards for army cars and

lorries, and parts for field radio sets.


 "The use of this salvaged material,” this contractor points out,
“means an enormous saving in shipping space, because shellac is such a


light substance.”

 The Ministry of Supply’s national salvage campaign has stressed

particularly the collection of waste paper, metals and bones. A Ministry
official explained
 today, however, that the salving of many other forms of
"waste” is valuable and that these millions of old gramophone records should
not be neglected.




Ministry of Supply,
Press Office,
Adelphi,
W.C.2.

28th September, 1940.

M. 79.
 28/9/40 - No.5.




NOT TO BE PUBLISHED ON THE CLUB TAPES OR BY BROADCAST OR IN

ANY OTHER WAY BEFORE THE MORNING OF MONDAY 30th SEPTEMBER. 1940.




 The Treasury have issued the Additional Import Duties (No.9)
Order, 1940, which removes the additional duty chargeable on fresh

tomatoes, during the month of October.


 The Order comes into operation on Tuesday, the 1st October 1940,
and is published by His Majesty’s Stationery Office today as

Statutory Rules and Orders, 1940, No. 1702.




TREASURY CHAMBERS,
 S. W. 1.
 28/9/40 -
 No 6




 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED ON THE CLUB TAPES
 OR BY BROADCAST OR IN ANY OTHER WAY

 BEFORE THE MORNING OF MONDAY 30TH
 SPETEMBER 1940.




 The Treasury have issued the Additional Import Duties
(No. 8) Order,l940 which simplifies the duties chargeable on

certain twist drills.


 The Order comes into operation on Tuesday, 1st October
1940 and is published today by His Majesty’s Stationery Office
as Statutory Rules and Orders, 1940, No. 1694.




TREASURY CHAMBERS.

S.W.l.
AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO.1846 28/9/40 - No.7.

Air Ministry News Service


 TWO SERGEANTS BAG THREE.


 Ordered to fly a damaged Spitfire -
 officially described as "unfit for action"
from bis aerodrome to a repair base, a sergeant pilot got mixed, up in a fight over

the south-east coast.



 Coming out of clouds, he found his own squadron engaging an enemy formation and
saw a Messerschmitt 109 in the act of attacking one of his fellow Spitfire pilots.


 Forgetting that Ids aircraft was damaged, the sergeant immediately swung on to
the enemy’s tail. He tried a long shot from 600 yards and the Messerschmitt dived

towards sea level.


 to
 Following him down, he was able close in to ten yards range. The Messerschmitt

hit the water with a big splash.

 "I did not stay to make any further investigation”, said the sergeant afterwards,
"as I saw two or three black dots coming towards me, which I imagined to be enemy
aircraft, so I went full out and hedged-hopped away."

 1
 Fate played a hand in adding two Junkers 88 bombers to another sergeant s "bag".


 The squadron to which he belonged took off from its base to intercept enemy
aircraft. Climbing to a considerable height, they met and engaged a large force of
Messerschmitt fighters escorting a number of bombers which were ranged below them.


 As the Spitfires went into action the Squadron Commander noticed that one of his
fighters was missing. After the battle he learned the reason. "A pretty
satisfactory one,” he called it.



 "During the initial climb from the base”, he went on, "a sergeant pilot in the

squadron found that his oxygen apparatus was not functioning, and he was forced to

drop out of the formation.



 "Suddenly he saw a Junkers diving vertically out of the cloud, evidently about
to bomb the aerodrome. He swung in towards it, and pressed his gun button. The
Junkers immediately dived again, this time out of control, with a few hundred bullets
in its ’works'.



 "before it hit the ground, another bomber came whistling down from the clouds.

The sergeant-pilot turned again and picked him off too. Jerry never came out of his
dive, but went straight on down to the ’decks'.


 "A third bomber appeared. Its pilot was just in time to see the first Junkers
hit the ground, the second spinning in after it. He pulled up short and raced
back to the cover of the clouds.”
 28/9/40 -
 No. 8.


 MILK PRICES.


 There will be no immediate change in retail milk prices.


 The Milk Marketing Board announce that at the direction of the
Minister of Food they have prescribed the same minimum retail prices
for October as are in operation during this month. The prescription
 applies to sales by producer-retailers as well as to buying
distributors.


 The wholesale price payable by purchasers of milk to the
Board for milk used for liquid consumption during October will be
1s.l0d. par gallon for T.T. milk and ls8d. per gallon for milk other
than T.T.


 The Minister has intimated that it will not he possible to
prescribe prices for the remaining winter months pending the decision
as to the margin to be paid to milk distributors in the light of the

report of the committee set up by the Ministry under the chairmanship
 of Lord Perry. Until, therefore, such time as a decision has been
reached on this point it is proposed to prescribe prices on a monthly
basis.




MINISTRY OF FOOD.
 28/9/40 - No.9.


 Extract from Minister of Economic Warfare ’s Speech.

 The Rt, Hon. Hugh Dalton, M.P,, speaking at Manchester today( Saturday,
September 28) to the delegates of the Lancashire and. Cheshire Regional Council of
Labour said:-


 "Less than five months ago the Annual Conference of the Labour Party pledged
its full support to the present Government. That support is one of the nation-wide
foundations of Britain’s war effort and of ’that British will to victory which, since
the collapse of France, has astonished, all the world.


 Hitler’s attempted invasion of our island is not yet called off. We must be
still mentally, as well as physically, prepared to face it and repel it if it comes.


 The combined effect of our air attacks Germany and of our economic pressure
 on


through the blockade will, I am convinced, steadily turn the balance of war in our
favour.



 As we progressively regain that air superiority over Germany, which we should
 never have surrendered in the of peace, we shall progressively destroy the
 years
 •eman war machine and German stocks of oil and other war materials.


 As a of our own production of
 increasing imports aircraft and of
 consequence
from the U.S.A, and the
 Dominions, coupled heavy with
 continuing German air the and
 osses, we are steadily moving towards equality with Germany in the number of
lachines.



 Vfe have already established unquestionable superiority both in the skill and
 raining of our airmen and in the quality of our aircraft.

 7
 sometimes meet people who tell me that they think the published figures of

 erman air losses and of our own are too good to be true. I should like to reassure

 hem The figures of British losses are completely accurate.

 The German losses, published by Air all dead certs,
 as our own Ministry, are

 n addition, there are
 many probables possibles and which are not included in the
 otals and there are, in addition to these, some unimown certainties represented by
 erman aircraft destroyed by British aircraft whose pilots never return.


 It is a sure sign of the weak foundations of German morale that they find it
 in order to sustain their to tell from
 eoessary, people, day to day fantastic lies
 egarding the outcome of this long battle in the air,"




 INISTRY OF ECONOMO WARFARE.
 28/9/40 -
 NO: 10.




 Not for publication before Sunday papers, Sept. 18th.
 Not for broadcast before 7 a.m. that date




 The Minister of Aircraft Production acknowledges with
gratitude the following gifts towards the purchase of aircraft:-

A Clackmannan old age pensioner, whose only income is her

 pension, sends 14/6d.,made up in pennies and threepenny
 pieces, to help in the purchase of another Spitfire,
 This left her with only l/8d to carry her on to the end
 of the week. The gift is to show her admiration for the
 gallant pilots who are covering themselves with glory.


Mrts. H.B. Gemmell, Louella Wayne, Penns, U.S.A. -


 5 dollars.
 Mrs. Gemmell writes: ’’The Air Force, so glorious, so


 courageous, and so tireless in their ceaseless defence

 and offensive against the Germans,will go down in history
 as a light which holds high the torch of British spirit”.

Mrs. A.R. Miller, Onondaga, Ontario, Canada. - 8 dollars 96 cents,
 (towards a bomber),



MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION
 28/9/40 - No. 41.




 EVACUATED CHILDREN.




 Letters from parents whose children have already been evacuated
to the Dominions under the Children's Overseas Reception Board scheme
are reaching the offices of the Board. They express deep sympathy with
the parents of children lost on September 17 in the ship proceeding to
Canada, and gratitude to the Board for having conducted their own little
one’s to safety.

 One such communication from the mother of two children now in

Canada says ”I wish to thank you for sending our children to such a

beautiful home. It is wonderful for us who are only working people to
know that our children are so happy and well cared for. I have just
read in a newspaper a letter from a lady who says it is only wealthy
children who go. Will you tell her from me that the very poorest had
the same chance”.


 A man who describes himself as "one of the lucky ones -
 my wife
and three children are all safely over” has sent to the offices of the
Board a cheque for £25 with the request that it may be used in cases

where some financial help might at this particular moment be welcome.


 Mr. Geoffrey Shakespeare, M.P. Under Secretary for Dominion
Affairs, who is Chairman’ of the Board is taking advice as to the best

way the money should be utilised.


 A lady has written offering assistance up to £l0 for the purchase
of mourning or in some other way for a family.

 A very large number of offers have been received from women and
men to act as escorts in the next ship to sail.




CHILDREN’S OVERSEAS RECEPTION BOARD,.
AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO. 1848.
Air Ministry News Service. 28.9.40 - No.12.


 R.A.F. HEAVY ATTACK ON NEW INVASION BASE.


 Dock buildings were wrecked, warehouses and. a timber yard set ablaze and
 visible seventy miles away, were started during an intense
great fires, some

bombardment of the French Atlantic port of LORIENT, last night by bombers of the
Royal Air Force.



 The raid lasted for nearly three and a half hours. Good visibility and

cloudless sky enabled many of the attackers to pin-point the damage caused by their
bombs*


 In the first phase of the attack, high explosive and incendiary bombs fell
at the rate of five a minute for over an hour.


 Hits were scored on the docks, on the east and west banks of the harbour,
and on the quayside near the Pont de Oaudan,


 Fires spread rapidly among the dockside buildings, others were started near
a block of warehouses on the east bank; and one huge blaze engulfed buildings near
 the and river,'
the harbour
 power station and lit up a great part of docks



 This fire was seen by the crews of aircraft flying over the French Channel

coast on the other side of the peninsula.


 Following raiders, guided by these fires, added to the
 damage. Incendiary
bombs set a timber yard ablaze, and sticks of high explosive bombs straddled, the
shipping lying in the basins and the river anchorages.

 One long stick of bombs fell right across the river, the first bomb

 the eastern dock and the remainder bursting in line which ended in
exploding on a


the west dock on the opposite bank.



 As the last of the raiders left for home in the early hours of this morning,
the smoke of many fires billowed over the docks.


 Other night raiders operating at
 over
 Germany bombed railway yards
MANNHEIM and HAMM and attacked a large munitions factory at DUSSELDORF.




AIR AFFAIRS.
CORRECTION. 28.9.40.

 In Air Ministry Bulletin No. 1849 issued as

handout No. 13 today, please delete the last paragraph and

substitute for the previous paragraph the following:


 "Pilot Officer Connor, a Canadian pilot, received the
immediate awardof the B.F.G. for piloting the damaged Hampden
bomber back to its base”.




AIR AFFAIRS
r ministry BULLETIN NO 1849 28/9/40 -
 No 13
r Ministry News Service,




 SERGEANT JOHN HANNAH V.C.


 A Squadron’s Record.



 Sergeant John Hannah, who has been awarded the Victoria
osS for most conspicuous bravery, is stationed at the same Hampden
rnber aerodrome as flight lieutenant R,A O
 B. Learoyd, who received

.e V.C, for his part in the attack on the Dortmund-Ems canal* They
e not,however, in the came squadron.


 The Bomber Squadron to which Sergeant Hannah belongs was formed
 Scotland in 1 917 and a few months later it began operations in
.




 ance. In one operation on a stormy night towards the end of the
 st war six pilots carried out a dangerous mission and each of them
 ceived the D.F.C.


 In the present war the squadron has lived up to its reputation and
;fore Sergeant Hannah’s particular act of bravery it had earned one
 1
S.O. for outstanding work on the Dortmund-Ems canal, thirteen D.F.C s
 1
id five DiF.M s.



 The squadron took part in the numerous reconnaissance flights over

.e North Germany in the early days of the war and also shared
 Sea and
.e nightly security patrols over the German seaplane bases. Later,
>ecially trained crews laid mines in enemy occupied waters.


 Pilot officer Connor, the Canadian pilot who received the immediate
ard of the D.F.C. for piloting the damaged Hampden bomber back to its
r




 se, submitted the following report.


 ’’Fire broke out amidships after or during attack. I warned the
•ew to prepare to jump* Ammunition was exploding and when south of
te target the navigator gave me a course to steer. I then asked him
 go aft and discover what had happened. Ten minutes later wireless
•




>erator reported fire out and air gunner not hurt. I then asked him
 go forward to find the navigator. The wireless operator then reported
i




.at the navigator was not hurt.”




:r ministry.
 28.9.40 -
 No.14.


 TODAYS CAIRO COMMUNIQUE


 Nothing of importance to report.



MINISTRY OF INFORMATION.
Urgent News. A.M. Bulletin No, 1839.



 ROYAL AIR
 FORCE AWARDS NO. 115.


 THE KING has been graciously pleased to the undermentioned
 approve



awards, in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the


enemy




 Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.


Acting Squadron Leader John FULTON. This officer has taken part in twenty
major operations over enemy territory since early in June, 1940. One night
in September attack on enemy objectives at Brussels was frustrated by the
failure of the starboard engine he turned fox home.
 and
 Later, however, the
engine functioned, normally and Squadron Leader Fulton decided to resume his
mission. He made two successful attacks straddling the railway junction with
both sticks of bombs. By his persistent determination, outstanding skill and
devotion to duty in the face of heavy opposition and many set-backs. Squadron
Leader Fulton was able to complete his task.


Acting Flight Lieutenant Peter Copiestone LEMON. Since the beginning of the

war this officer has conducted 23 operations over- Norway, Holland, France,

Belgium and Germany. Lieutenant Lemon with
 In September, l940, Flight great
courage in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, dived to 500 feet over

Antwerp Harbour and released a stick of bombs which caused a large brick
building to blow up and burr furiously 0 His aircraft was considerably
damaged by an anti-aircraft shell which caused a
 fire, but by skilful piloting
a successful landing was made© By his courage, persistent determination and

outstanding skill this officer has at ail times set an example of the; highest
order.



Acting Plight Lieutenant Christopher Frederick CURRANT. This officer has led
his flight with great skill and courage in air combats in the defence of London.
He has and number of
 destroyed seven enemy aircraft damaged a others© His

splendid example and fine fighting spirit have inspired the other pilots in
his flight.


Pilot Officer Clare Arthur Hovendan CONNOR. Pilot Officer Connor was
 captain
of an aircraft detailed to attack enemy barge concentrations at Antwerp! one
night in September, 1940. His first run over the target was inaccurate and

no bombs were dropped. In the second approach, the aircraft was subjected to

intense fire from the ground, but the attack was pressed home successfully*
During this attack the bomb compartment in the aircraft was shattered and a


fire starbed which quickly spread to the wireless operator's and rear gunner’s
cockpit© The port mid-wing and the tail boom wore damaged. Shell fire

pierced the port rear petrol tank causing grave risk of the fire spreading, and

the starboard tank was also navigator and
 pierced. The
 gunner abandoned rear

the aircraft, but the wireless operator air gunner remained and succeeded in
controlling, and eventually extinguishing, the flames. In spite of the

condition of his aircraft and knowing that lie had neither a
 navigator, rear


 nor normal wireless facilities, Pilot Officer Connor succeeded in
gunner
 to his and
 landing without farther damage.
 base He displayed the
flying back
most outstanding coolness, courage and devotion to duty.



Pilot Officer Wilfred Jolin ILWIS© One night in. September© 194.0© this officer

successfully pressed in the face of intense and accurate anti.—aircraft
fire and searchlight glare© a dive-bombing attack on a concentration of barges
in Antwerp Docks© During*' the dive his aircraft was sevei-ely damaged by gun-
fire from the ground defences and was rendei*ed temporarily out of control©
Since March 1940 Pilot Officer Lewis has taken part in operational
 v
 ,

flights over enemy territory 5 and as a captain of aircraft lias displayed
outstanding coolness, determination and devotion to duty©
 20




 Awarded the Distinguished Flying Hedalo

802602 Sergeant Andrew McDQWALLa This airman has led his section on many
occasions and has destroyed at least six enemy one of ’which he

destroyed in a brilliant head-on attack at night© His capable leadership
has contributed largely to the many successes of his




 NOTES ON CAREERS©


Acting Squadron Leader Fulton was bom at Kamloopsßritish Columbia in
1912 and was educated
 Kamloops High School© He was a trooper in the
 at
British Columbia Hussars before being commissioned 'in the in 1935*
Ho was promoted Flying Officer in 1937 and Flight Lieutenant in 1939©

Acting Flight Lieutenant Lemon was born at PaiDevon
 0
 in 1918 and
his home is at Weston-super*>Mare p Somers et-o He was educated at Bristol
Grammar School© He entered the R<,A a Fc> in 1936 and was promoted Flying
Officer in 1939© He reached his present rank this year©


Acting Flight Lieutenant Currant was born at\tetpnndnLlsll ahdChis h<>me
is at Herts© He enlisted in the in Januaryl936 P and

became a Sergeant Pilot in November of the same year© He

in April, 1940 and reached his present - rank &his month*


Pilot Officer Connor wan "born in Toronto f Canada, in. 19?V- and. was educated

at Whitney Public School <> Toronto and the UnxverSoty of Torosnio,-SehooX
He was commissioned in the R o AoF e in 19380 His wife lives at
Somerset,


Pilot Officer Lewis was bom in Durham Ontario and is .22 years Of 'age*
He was educated at Pori; Hope High SohcoXp Ontario aild his home is at Port

Hope© He was commissioned ..in the R ? A^P C in 193%

Sergeant McDowell was born at Kirkinner- ;Y\ined
the RoAoFo in June P 193%




Directorate of.Plblio-
/tr Minis i, r
 V i


 Charles

Whitehall-, S,W lo o




28th September f 194%
 28/9/40 - No.16.




 SHOPKEEPERS AND AIR RAIDS



 Some shopkeepers appear to be under the impression that if they allow
members of the public whether or not they are customers to be on their

premises during an air raid warning, they incur liability for any injury
sustained by such persons in consequence of enemy action or war operations.
This is a misapprehension of the position.

 So far as concerns injury from enemy action or war operations, such

persons enter or remain onthe premises at
 their own risk at any rate -




if there is no concealed danger which makes the particular premises specially
vulnerable* It would, of course, be a wise step for theshopkeeper to keep
the public away from any part of the premises which is specially dangerous,
or to warn them of the danger.

MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY
Air Ministry Bulletin No. 1850* 28/9/40 - NO: 17.


AIR MINISTRY NEWS SERVICE


 NORTH SEA RESCUES


 After searching for three-and-a-half days, aircraft of the Coastal Command and
naval vessels, working in closest co-operation, have found the crew of a British bomber
 which had come down in the North Sea#


 hours the adrift in their rubber dinghy in
 During the eighty-four crew were a


 Hudson and /mson aircraft sent out f Fem dawn to dvsk
rough sea,
 were hourly each day
in an endeavour to locate them and to direct surface draft to the spot.

 The enemy attempted several tines to obstruct the rescue efforts and Blenheim

fighters were despatched on protective patrol.

 When Heinkels 115 came near one of the searching warships, they were engaged by
Hudsons, which drove them off.



 The narauding Germans mostly remained out of machine-gun range. A number of

times, however, our aircraft manoeuvered through cloud into striking distance.


 Long bursts of accurate fire sent the Heinkels off.



 Three times our aircraft located the dinghy as it was carried hither and thither

by wind and currents, but the longest the rubber boat could be kept in sight at one
time was five minutes.



 Visibility was very poor and the windows of the aircraft were often coated with
brine.


 At dusk on the first day of the search a Hudson dropped a parcel of comforts near

the dinghy. It fell ten yards down wind, and although the men in the rubber boat

paddled hard they failed to reach the package.

 There was more success on the third day, when a container of food and tobacco,
released by another aircraft, dropped alongside.

 One man was seen to reach out and get hold of the water-proof bag, to it,
 open
and to light a cigarette.

 The rescue was effected seventy miles nearer the coast than when the search started#
A Hudson cirling the dinghy just before darkness saw emerging from the mist two

warships which had been directed to the pssition. The exact spot was indicated by
flare floats and by the aircraft diving repeatedly towards the dinghy.

 Ten minutes afterwards, the survivors were safely aboard.
 28/9/40 - No.18.


 AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN No. 1851


 Air Ministry News Service.




 SERGEANT JOHN HANNAH V.C.



 A TRIBUTE FROM HIS A.O.G.




 The following tribute to Sergeant John Hannah V.C* was paid today
by the Air Officer Commanding the Hampden bomber group where Sergeant
Hannah is stationed.

 ’’Sergeant Hannah would have had every justification if he had left
the burning aircraft” his A,'o*C. said. ”He could have followed the

rear gunner through the bottom escape hatch or come forward, closed
the bulk head door, and escaped through the navigator’s hatch. He did

neither, but remained in the rear cockpit, which must have rapidly
become an inferno.

 ”The large explosive or incendiary projectile which apparently
burst inside the bomb compartment of the aircraft set parts of the
interior alight with the result that the whole of the bomb compartment,
with the forced draft coming through the large hole caused by the
direct hit, was turned into a sort of blow lamp. The whole of the
aluminium sheet metal on the floor of Sergeant Hannah’s cockpit was

melted away leaving only a grid formed by the cross bearers.

 ’’This molten metal was blown backwards and plated in great smears

on the rear bulk head. The electrical leads and all other inflammable
equipment inside the cockpit were alight and drums of ammunition were

blown open, thousands of rounds exploding in all directions. The outer

layer of the sheet metal on the door and bulkhead of the rear compartment
was also melted and blistered* That Sergeant Hannah could only remain
there by using his Oxygen mask is not to He wondered at, and it is
almost inconceivable that anyone could have had the courage or the
presence of mind to tackle such a fire.
 ’’That he turned his to keep himself while he fought
 on oxygen going
the fire is indeed further proof of his extraordinary presence of mind.
The suit which he
 flying was wearing is to some extent fire proof, but
when exposed to prolonged heat it has been known to burn. Had that

occurred, Sergeant Hannah, as he must well have known, would have been
burnt to death even had he succeeded in getting out with his parachute*
 ’’While fighting the fire his parachute was burnt with the rest of
the equipment in the and there is doubt that Sergeant
 cockpit, no
Hannah must have realised that by delaying his escape he had deprived
himself of his last chance of getting away from the aircraft.

 ”His action is certainly one of the clearest examples of the most

conspicuous bravery and extreme devotion to duty under the most
harrassing conditions that I have come across.

 11
 Through his action Sergeant Hannah very probably saved the life
of his pilot. He certainly saved the aircraft in conditions when he
must have known that his last chance of personal safety was "being
apparently hopelessly jeopardised. I can only add that no one who
has seen the condition of the aircraft otherwise than amazed at
 can ]je
the extraordinary presence of mind and extreme which Sergeant
 courage
Hannah displayed in remaining in it”.




AIR MINISTRY
AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO, 1853. 28/9/40. - No. 19.


Air Ministry News Service.



 PREMIER PRAISES FIGHTER PILOTS.



 The following message has been sent by the Secretary of State
for Air to the Commander in Chief, Fighter Command, Air Chief
Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding,

 ”1 have received the following message from the Prime Minister:-


 ’Pray congratulate the Fighter Command, on the results of
yesterday. The scale and intensity of the fighting and the heavy
losses of the enemy, especially in relation to our own, make
September 27 rank with September 15 and August 15, as the third
great and victorious day of the Fighter Command during the course
 1
of the Battle of Britain


 Archibald Sinclair.”
AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN No,? 1852 28/9/40 -
 No.20.

Air Ministry News Service,




 RENEWED ATTACKS ON CHANNEL PORTS



 A terrific explosion which lasted for two minutes shook the docks at
LE HAVRE during last night’s (Friday) heavy attack on the port.

 The explosion, was seen by the crews of two aircraft and started a fire

which raged for a long time.

 In a concentrated bombardment of the dock areas, bombs fell on the

steel and aluminium rolling mills.

 A group of oil tanks, near one of the main basins was struck and the
blast from a salvo of bombs which fell on the Bellot Basin lifted the roof
off nearby warehouses. Fires and vivid coloured explosions, marked direct
hits on
 many other parts of the harbour.

 In the attack on OSTEND, low cloud hampered observation but several
of the raiders reported direct hits along the side of the main wet dock and on

the eastern-most dock.


 Fires were followed by heavy explosions. One searchlight which was

particularly troublesome went out suddenly in a blue flash after a gunner
of a low flying bomber.
 28/9/40.


 CORRECTION TO ISSUE No.20.



 The last sentence in issue No.20. of today should readt—-

 "One searchlight which was particularly troublesome went out
suddenly in a blue flash after a two-hundred-and-fifty-rounds burst
had been fired at it by the rear-gunner of a low flying bomber”.
AIR MINISTRY 1854 28.9.40 No. 21.


 AIR MINISTRY COMMUNIQUE




 Attacks on shipping in enemy-occupied harbours in France
were extended last night to Lorient on the Breton coast, where
the docks were heavily bombed.

 Other strong bomber forces continued the nightly attacks
on shipping in the Channel ports of Dunkirk, Ostend, Calais,
and Boulogne and also at Le Havre where the attack was particularly
successful.


 In Germany, our aircraft bombed the railway yards at Hamm

and Mannheim and a munitions factory at Dusseldorf.


 All our aircraft returned.
 28/9/40. -
 No. 22.


 MESSAGE TO THE COLONIAL SOLDIERS AT DAKAR.


 The following message is from General de Larminatpovenicr General
of French Equatorial Africa, to the Colonial Soldiers of Dakar.

It will be broadcast in French to the French Colonies at 8.25 P*m.

tonight (Saturday) on the B.B.C. French service.


 You fought well to prevent Frenchmen from landing at Dakar.
You knew that these Frenchmen had no other aim than to preserve
 the and the Italians from
Dakar for France and to prevent Germans

setting up submarine and air bases there. You opened fire on

unarmed French officers coming as spokesmen and you seriously
wounded two of them. All this certainly did not please you very
much, for it was not against Frenchmen or Englishmen that you
 But you obeyed the orders of superiors.
aspired to fight. your
Do realise that these superiors have undertaken very serious
 you
responsibilities on
 your behalf? By making you machine-gun your
fellow-countrymen they have put themselves under an obligation to

receive in the same manner every German or Italian enemy who may

try to do at Dakar what General de Gaulle wished to prevent.


 It is a terrible oath - whether your superiors realise it

or not - to have signed in your blood and that of your brothers.
Never forget it; for if ever you allow Germans or Italians to

instal themselves at Dakar, even surreptitiously, when you have

driven off Frenchmen by force of arms, then you will be dishonoured,
both as soldiers and as Frenchmen, Your honour compels you to

watch over the fulfilment of this oath. It obliges you to attack

without hesitation every German and every Italian who may present
himself at Dakar, just as you have fired
 upon Capitaine de Fregate
Thierry d’Argenlieu and Captain Becourt-Foch.


 It obliges you to compel your superiors who have so heavily
committed to respect their own commitments. Do not forget
 you,
the principal person responsible for these events. Governor General
Boisson. As he was the heart and soul of the resistance to General
de Gaulle and his army, of French soldiers who have already fought
against the Germans, so you will insist on his being the heart and
soul of the defence of Dakar against the Germans and Italians.
Watch him closely, for he is a clever man; do not let pass any
trick, any compromise,. And, above all, do not let him leave; he

has become the hostage of your honour as soldiers and of your honour
as Frenchmen,, He must be among you to answer for it at any moment.


 Adieu. I am on the other side of the barricade, but I am

a Colonial soldier as you are. I believe that you have been
hatefully deceived but that you did what you thought to be your
duty. May the execution of this painful duty have, at least,
the compensation of saving you yourselves and French West Africa
from all the schemes of our German and Italian enemies.


 The French Empire ought not to he used by these enemies as
a battle-field; you are now committed in honour to prevent it.


 (Signed) General do Larminat,


MINISTRY OF INFORMATION,
 28/9/40 - NO. 23
AIR MINISTRY NO. 1855




 AIR MINISTRY AND MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY COMMUNIQUE




 “Enemy activities over this country to-day have consisted of three main
operations. Early this morning and shortly after midday forces of enemy
aircraft crossed the South-east coast and attempted to reach London. They
were engaged by strong forces of our fighters and broken up.


 “In the first of these attacks a few of the enemy penetrated to .east;

London. A small number of bombs was dropped but very little damage appears
to have been done and the casualties reported are few.


 "In the second attack no enemy aircraft succeeded in reaching London,
but several bombs were dropped on a South Coast town. Some houses were

damaged but no casualties have been reported.


 “Later in the afternoon an
 enemy force approached, the Portsmouth area*

They were immediately engaged by our fighters and driven off. There are no

reports of any bombs having been dropped. Tn all these attacks the
forces consisted very of
 fighter aircraft.
 largely The combats have therefore
been almost entirely between fighter and fighter, and reports so far received
show that as against six enemy aircraft known definitely to have been destroyed,
seven of our fighters are missing.


 “One more of our pilots reported missing yesterday is now known to be safe.'