~Wednesday,May7?1941• MINISTRYOFINFORMATION NEWSBULLETINN0,373* . REPLACEMENTOFPENSIONANDINSURANCEBOOKS. Asimplemethodofreplacingpensionallowanceorderhealth orbooks, andpensionsinsurancecards,andunemploymentinsurancebooks,lostthrough thebombingof*homes,isnowinforce.Instructionsthe onnewprocedure havebeensentbytheMinisterofHealthtoallLocal Authorities,whoare informingofficersatRest,InformationandAdministrativeCentres, Anyonewhosebookorcardhasbeenlostbadlydamagedthroughenemy or action,cangetadviceatthelocalTownHall,CouncilOfficesor InformationCentre.—- Ministr;/ofHealth,M.0.1.I. HIGH-SPEEDBRIDGE-BUILDINGBY CANADIANENGINEERS AvividdescriptionoftheworkoftheRoyalCanadianEngineersis giveninadespatchfromacorrespondentwiththeCanadianCorpsonthehome’ frontinEngland. Duringrecentanti-invasionmanoeuvres,22,000troopsweremovingrapidly alongtworoa<3stotheseawhenArmyumpires,whosejobistotrytoconfusethe Corpswithobstacles,ruledthatariverbridgehadbeenblownup. Orderstobuildanotherbridgeatanearbypointwereflashedtothe engineers,andinhalfanhouranumberofsix-wheeledtrucks,carrying girdersandotherstandardequipment,wereonthespot. Anti-aircraftgunsfordefenceduringtheoperationweresetupwith liveammunitionreadyforGermandayraiders,andthecompanytowork, set any draggingthesteelbeamsoffthetrucks.Thegirderswerequicklylaidinline bysweatingsappers,andsteelarmswithheavywheelsontheendswerefixed tothem.Thegirderswerepushedforwardonrollersandshotoverthewater untilthewheelontheleadingarmreachedtheoppositebank#Then-witha boisterous”heave-ho"thegirderswerehauledintoplace.Asthegirderswere the placedriver,sidebyside,plankswereplaced:ontop. oyertheWith additionalaidofatravellingcrane,abridgestrongenoughtocarrythe heaviestvehiclesintheCorpswaserectedwithinanhour. M.0.1.2 MinistryofInformation. LATESTLOANSFROMTHECOLONIES. themonthof LoansmadebytheColoniestoHisMajesty’sTreasuryduring April,1941?totalss*9I,6, BEATINGTHEWIREWORM WorstofGrasslandPestscanbeDefeated Thedangerofwirewormattackisalwayspresentwhengrasslandisbrokenupand cropped,butthispestcanbedefeated.Thousandsofacresinfestedwithwireworm grewgoodcropslastyear.Skilfulcultivationisperhapsthemostefficientmeans ofproducinggoodcropsinspiteofthispest,butsuitablemanuring,earlysowing- andgenerousseedingallhelp.Iftheoddsseemtooheavyinthewireworm’sfavour, thereisa-widechoiceof cropsfairlysafefromattack, Anew"Growmore”leafletfromtheMinistryofAgriculture,HeatingtheWireworm g-ivesthenecessaryinformationaboutthebestpayofdealingwiththispestof newlyploughedgrass,anditintosomedetailabouthowdifferentcropsfarein goes thisrespect. TheleafletisfreeonapplicationtotheMinistryatHotelLindum.St.Anne’s- on-Sea,Lancashire.11inistr/ofAgricultureM.- M.o.I,- 7* 7. MAPPINGAWAYTOVICTORY TheEastAfricanSurveyService,statesacorrespondent,hasmappedamillion squaremilesinthecampaign.Ithasproduced450mapsunderthemostdifficult conditionswherevisibilityatgroundlevelwasnil,bybush,mirage,heatshimmer, withaliabilitytogetarhinocharge.Aerialphotographyhasbeenhinderedby cloud,formationsandafeaturelesscountry.TheSurveyServicehasoftenbeen manymilesaheadofthetroops.ItsmembersmappedHawinaandMischettisix-months beforeitscapture,WhenourtroopsattackedGobwentheyfoundsixmilesfromthe towna surveyoroftheServicefixinghispositionbyastronomicalreckoning.He ledarmouredbyroutewhichenabledthemtomaizesuccessful carsaasurpriseattack. Ministry-ofInformationI. M.o.- 8. 7/5/M'No:5» WOMENDRIVERSTOTELLAMERICA ABOUT"BLITZ”"TRANSPORT. TwomembersoftheWomen’sMechanisedTransportCorps, MissW.R,AshfordandMrs.H.0.P.MacLeod,whoaregoingtothe UnitedStatesinresponsetoprivateinvitations,areassured ofacordialwelcome. TheirmissionistotrytotellAmericanwomensomething aboutthespecialisedworkofBritishwomenM.T.C.Driversin theblitz.Astheresultoftheirpersonalexperiencesof airattacksonLondontheyshouldbeabletoconveyvivid impressionstotheirAmericanlisteners.Theyarealsofamiliar withtheworkofotherwomen’scorps,andarcthusfullyqualified toansweranyquestionsonthesubject. AparticularlyadventurouscareeristhatofMrs.MacLeod. ShenarrowlyescapedinternmentinGermanyattheoutbreakof thelastwar,escapingtoSwitzerlandinacattletruckcrammed withsoldiers..SheafterwardsdidhospitalworkatBiarritz, andthenwenttoIndia,whereshemetherfirsthusband,Air- CommanderRomneySampson,onwhoseheadtheGermanshadplaced-, apriceof£lOOO.HewasknownastheCaptainKettleoftheAir. SubsequentlyMrs.MacLeodhadranching,andbig-gameshooting experienceinRhodesiaandtheKalahariDesert. Beforethewarbrokeout,Mrs.MacLeodwasassociatedwith aninteriordecoratingbusinessandwithfarminginKent. MissAshfordwaseducatedinNewYork,andhasseveral timessubsequentlyvisitedAmerica.Sheiswellknownas OlgaAshford,thedressdesigner.Shevolunteeredduringthe MunichcrisisfortheMechanisedTransportCorps,andhasdone agreatdealofdrivingduringtheraidsonthedockarea.Her businesspremiseshavebeentwicebombedout. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION. NGTE:-PhotographsareavailablefromFoxPhotos,TudorSt., E.C.A. 7/5/41- No.7. AIRMINISTRYNH7SSERVICE AIRMINISTRYBULLETINNo.3829. NIGHTFIGHTERS’NWRECORD, NightfightersoftheR.A.F.setupanotherrecordlastnight ■whentheyshotdownanddestroyed22enemyaircraft;anti-aircraft gunfiredestroyedoneandinadditionanumberofothersweredamaged. Pilotsnewtonightfightingscoredtheirfirstsuccesses; othervictimsweresecuredbymenwhohavealreadydistinguished themselvesinbringingdownbombersduringthehoursofdarkness.One pilotwhohasmadeahabitofgettingtwoinanightrepeatedthe effortandshotdowntwoHe.lll’swithinafewminutesofoneanother. ThreebombersaerodromesinNorthern enemyweredestroyedover Francebyfighters-whowaitedfortheraiderstoreturntotheir bases.Onesquadrongotfourdefinitelydestroyed,anothersquadron broughtdownthreeandtwosquadronseachgottwo. Awoundedsergeantpilotofone squadron,shotinthehandand forearmbythegunneroftheGermanmachinehewasattacking,brought hisenemydownandthenflewhisaircraftbacktohisbase. "Hewasobviouslyintrouble,"hisobserversaidlater,"but managedtokeepcontrolofthemachine,woundedashewas," Athrilling40milechasewasdescribedbyapilotofanother squadron. "IwentafterhimforallIwasworth,"thepilotsaidwhenhe landed,"andgothimafterabout40miles,givinghimalonghurst withmyguns,andthoughhetriedfiringatmetheerraticbehaviour ofthemachinespoiledthegunner’saim.Hewaswellonfireafter mysecondhurst,andIcircledroundandwatchedhimcrash." AflyingofficerwhogotaD0.17saidlater,”hedidn’tsee meatfirst,thenhespottedmeanddived,hutIhimgood gavea hurstfrommyashefiredatme.ThenexttimeIshotI guns silencedtherear gunner.ThelastIsawoftheDornieritwas sinkingintotheseaaftertwoofthecrowhadhaledout.” 7/SAI-No,io OFFICIALADMIRALTYCOM-UNIQUE TheBoardofAdmiraltyregretstoannouncethatH*M*S».an auxiliaryvesseloftheRoyalNavy(OonmanderD.M.B*Baker,R*D*,R.N.R.), hasbeensunk.Thenextofkinofcasualtieshavebeeninformed* PATIAattackedbyGermanaircraftwithbombsand H,M*S.wasa machine-gunfire*.TheenemyaircraftwasshotdownbyH.M.S.PATIA, buttheshipwashitandsank* ADMIRALTY. 7/5/41No.11. AIRMINISTRYBULLETINNo.3816. AirMinistryNewsService. R.AF.O FIGHTERPILOTS*ADDITIONALSUCCESSES. Threeoftheeightraidersshotdownbyfighterslastnight wereclaimed'ey.pilotswhohadscoredsuccesses24hoursbefore. Twosquadronleadersscoredtheirfirstsuccess.Afteroneof themhadmadeadifficultlandinghesaid,’’theHunsawmeandopened firerightaway,butwehadnotimetcworryaboutdamage-.Wefired hardlyanything,buthesuddenlyburstintoflamesandwentdown, andIsawoneofthecrewbaleout.ItwasnottillthenthatI foundmymachinehadbeenhit.” Anotherraiderwascrippledandsentdowninflamesbythe firstburstofgunfire.Thefighterpilotsaidlater-,’’the targetwaseasyasIhadhiminthelightofthemoon.Iwatched himblazinginthewaterfromfivemilesaway.’’ ANewtwosightedhisfirst Zealander,whoscoredvictories, victimwhenhehadbeenuponlyfifteenminutes.Twoburstsof gunfirewereenoughtcsenditcrashing.Afterhissecondraider hadbeenattackeditside-slipped,towardshimoutofcontrol,and hehadtoturnsharplytoavoid Thenumberofenemyraidersdestroyedbynightfightersthis yearisnowwellover100,ofwhichmorethan80havebeen destroyedinthelast6weeks. 7/5/41No:18. NORWEGIANINDEPENDENCEDAY. Norwegiansthroughouttheworldarepreparing tocelebrateNorwegianIndependenceDayonMay17» Ithas"beenNorway'sgreatestfestivalever sincetheStortingmetatEidsvoldonMay17?1811#, todeclareNorwayafreeand.independentnationand tolaythefoundationofNorway'sdemocraticconsti- tution* NORWEGIANGOVEWEWT.PRESSDEPARTMENT. AIRMINISTRYNO#3818.7/5/41-No.20. AIRMINISTRYCOMnUNIQUE. 1 Hamburgwastheprincipalobjectiveoflastnightsattacks onnorth-westGermanybyalargeforceofaircraftoftheBomber Command.Theweatherwasunfavourableforthe'fullobservation ofresults,butlargefireswereseentobreakout# Th©docksatLeHavreandotherobjectivesonthecoasts ofenemy-occupiedterritorywerealsoattacked# OfftheFrisianIslands,anenemysupplyshipofabout 5,000tonswashitwithbombs,andthevesselisconsideredto beatotalloss. Indaylightyesterday,aircraftofthesamecommandcontinued theirsearchforenemyshippingofftheDutchandGermancoasts, Onepatrolvesselwassunkandanothersetonfire# Fromalltheseoperationsthreeofouraircraftaremissing.. 7/5/U23 FURTHERMILITARYREGISTRATIONS. TheMinistryofLabourandNationalServiceannouncesthatthe followingfurtherregistrationswilltakeplaceundertheNationalService (ArmedForces)Acts~ 17thMay,1941:Menbornin1902. 51stMay,1941:Menbornin1901. Thesefurtherregistrationswillenablequestionsofreservation, deferment,orpostponementofthemenconcernedtobeconsideredtogether, sothattheyandtheiremployersmayknowtheirposition,asfarasthe uncertaintiesofwarallow.Itwillalsomakeitpossibletodiscover amongsucholdermenthosewhoarenotnowemployedonworkofnational butbytransferringtosuchworkreleaseyoungerfor importance,car.men thefightingforcesc ThedecisiontoregisterfurtherclassesundertheNationalService (ArmedForces)Actsinvolvesnochangeofthepreviousintentiontoavoid ifpossiblecallinganyofthemformilitaryserviceatleastforsomemonths0 Menoftheseclasses,,unlessreservedbyoccupation,milbesummonedfor medicalexaminationassoonasThissummonswillnotaffect applicationsfordefermentofsuchme:% MINISTRYOFLABOUR&NATIONALSURVICF. AIRMINISTRYBULLETINNo:3820 7/5/MNo:2k AirMinistryNewsService. "BATTLEOFBRITAIN"BROADCAST. SoundeffectsrecordedatR.A.F.stationswillbeheard inthedramatisedversionofthe"BattleofBritain"tobe broadcastintheB.B.C.HomeServiceprogrammeat8o’clock onThursdayevening(May8). ListenerswillheartheR.A.F.FighterCommandgoing intoactiontomeetthechallengeoftheLuftwaffe:they willbeabletofollowtheprogressoftheairbattles overLondonwhenourSpitfiresandHurricaneswereshooting downthemassedformationsofHeinkelsandDorniersbythe score* Theearlierstagesofthestrugglearegraphically represented,includingdive-bombingattacksonourconvoys offtheIsleof Wight,andfierceraidsonsomeofour fighterstations. Thehasbeenwrittentheauthorofthe programmeby AirMinistryaccount"TheBattleofBritain"andMr.Cecil McGivern,withthecooperationoftheAirMinistry* 7/5/m- Wo*26 MIDDLEEAST,COMMUNIQUE Thefollowingofficialcommuniquewasissuedatthe BritishG.H.Q.,Cairo,to-day:- IRAQ.YesterdayBritishtroopsandIraqilevies operatingfromHabbaniya,ejectedtheenemy frompositionsontheplateauoverlooking thecantonmentInthissuccessfulaction 9 theenemysufferedheavylosses,whereas ourcasualtieswereslight,RoyalAirForce unitsrenderedcontinuousclosesupportduring theattack,bombingandmachine-gunningthe Iraqisandsubsequentlykeepingthemonthe moveduringtheirwithdrawaltowardsFALLUJA. IntheBasraareathesituationcontinuesquiet andunchanged. LIBYA.-Tobruk.-Duringthenightofsth/6thMayourtroops successfullyattackedforwardenemyposts, inflictingcasualtiesandtakinganumberof prisoners. Yesterdaycommunicationandobservationwere againmadedifficultbyaseveresandstormand furtherdetailsarestilllacking. IntheSoliumareaourmechanisedforces continuetheirvigorouspatrollingactivities. ABYSSINIA.-OurconvergingmovementuponAmtaAlagiis progressingsatisfactorily.Whilepressure fromthenorthisincreasingImperialtroops haveoccupiedQUORAM,whichisonly30miles southofthemainItalianposition.,.Inthis operationnumberofprisonershasbeen a taken, includingoneGeneralo Inthesouthernareaourtroopshaveengaged theenemyholdingstrongpositionat a WADARA, 30milessouthofNEGHELLI.Thisoperation alsoiscontinuingfavourablyn Onthenorth-eastcoastalsectorofItalian Somalilandwehave occupiedBENDERKASSIM, capturing100Italianprisonersandaquantity ofwarmaterial. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION(MilitaryAffairs). 7.5.U.- No.29. COIMNIQUEFROMTHEFREEFRENCHHEADQUARTERSINLONDON;- GeneraldeGaullewasgivenanenthusiasticreceptionin Bangui,thecapitalofÜbangi-Shari. Henotedthevastlyimprovedeconomicconditionofthe Colonyandgaveinstructionsforthedevelopmentofcommunications. Themoraleofthepeopleisexcellent.Over3,000,000.francs havebeensubscribedtoaSpitfirefund.Troopsarefightingonthe AfricanfrontandothersaretrainingintheColony. SidebysidewiththewarefforttheFreeFrenchauthorities arefurtheringthedevelopmentoftheColonyalongprogressivelines. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION. 7/5/U1-No.30 AIRMINISTRYBULLETINNO.3-822 AIRMINISTRYCOMMUNIQUE Sincedawntodaytherehasbeenconsiderableenemy activityoffthesouth-eastcoast,andenemyaircraft havefrequentlybeenengagedbycurfighters.Asa resultofthesecombats,sixenemyfightershavebeen shotdownandtwoofourfightersaremissing* Itisnowconfirmedthatanenemyraiderwasshot downbyanti-aircraftgunfirelastnightmakingatotal Qfnineenemyaircraftdestroyedduringthenight. Duringdaylightyesterdayfourenemyfightersin alltwoofthembyfightersandtwo weredestroyed,our byanti-aircraftgunfire. Fiveofourfightersaremissingfromyesterday’s operationsbutthreeofthepilotsaresafe. Ithasbeenconfirmedthatanti-aircraftgunsshot downtwobombersthenightofthe moreenemyduring Uth/sthMaymakingatotalofnineenemyaircraft destroyedduringthatnight. 7/5/UlNo.33 THEBRITISHPOODMISSIONINU.S.A. (Nottobepublished,beforethemorningpapersonBthMay and.nottobebroadcastbefore7..a/m,onthatdate. SimultaneousreleaseinAmericaarranged.) Mr.J.G.Hopkins,ofA.J.Millsand.Company,London and.NewYork,hasbeenappointed,atechnicalrepresentative oftheBritishFood.MissionatWashington.Mr.Hopkinshas beenengaged,fornearlytwelvemonthsonworkintheUnited. StatesfortheMinistryofFood.. MINISTRYOFFOOD AIRMINISTRYBULLETINNo*•3824. 7.5.41- No<34. AirMinistryNewsService. FIGHTINGABOVETHECLOUDS. AstrongforceofaircraftoftheBomberCommandattackedHamburglast night.Theskywasremarkablyclearandthemoonshonebrightlyabove successivelayersofcloud..Anti-aircraftshellscame upthroughthisdense blanketandtherewerenightfightersalongtheroute.Farabovethefoul weathertherewereseveralcombats. Someoftheenemyfighterscameveryclosetoourbombersandby enteringcloudonebomberevadedthreesingle-enginedfighterswhichdived toattack.AMesserschmitt110wasdamagedinanotherencounter. Germanbombersonthe Waybackfromtheirraidsonthiscountrywere alsoseen-OvertheNorthSeaatwin-enginedbomberpassedoverhead;atracer camefromtheenemyandourrear-gunneransweredwithagoodburst.Another ofourbomberswasattackedbothbyaHeinkel111andbyaJunkers88.Both thewerehitandourwassurethathehadseriouslydamaged enemyrear-gunner theHeinkel. OverHamburgtheweatherwasmorefavourableforbombingthanforthe observationofresults.But,opened,manyfireswereseen whentheclouds andatothertimesthebrilliantflashesoftheheavyhighexplosiveswere seenreflectedontheclouds. AttacksweremadeonseveralothertownsinNorth-west. Germany,and inapatchofclearskyoverKielthecrewofoneaircraftbombedalarge industrialbuildingontheNorthbankoftheCanalandsetitwellalight. 7/5/41No,35. AIRMINISTRYBULLETINNO.3825. AirMinistryNewsService. SIXGERMANSSHOTDOWNTODAY. FightersoftheR.A.F.havehadabusyandsuccessfulday.Theymanaged totobattlenumberofGermanfighterspatroloffthenortherncoast bringaon ofFranceandintheStraitsofafterweeksofbeingunabletomakethem Dover, andfight.Inthetheyshotdownanddestroyedsixenemy stopprecess aircraftandseverelydamagedanumberofothers. : AllthesixGermanaircraftdestroyedwereMe. s.,109 OneSpitfire squadrongotfouroftheminthreedifferentdogfightsofftheKentishcoast. Thefirstbattleafterdawn,twoshotdowninthis begansoonwere engagement.Itwasa"freeforallfight"whichbeganwhenfourSpitfires fromthesquadroninterceptedeightMesserschmitts. "Theywereashortdistanceaway,flyinginlineastern,"saidoneof theSpitfirepilots,"whenfirstIturnedinthe wesawthem.on enemyand theyatonceformedadefensivecircle.Butthissoonbrokeupwhenwewent intotheattack.IgaveoneGermanagoodburstandthenbrokeaway.When Iturnedbackhewasslowlyspinningdown." Anotherpilotinthesemesectionofthesquadronbegananattackonan Me.109fromaconsiderabledistance. "Thedivedstraightdowntolevel,butItoclosein enemyseamanaged andovertakehim,.SuddenlyhetriedtoclimbawayfrommeasIfiredagain. Blacksmokepouredfromhisengineandwhenhewasabout1,000feetabove thewaterherolledoveronhisbackanddivedstraightdowntothesea." Asergeantpilotofthesamesquadronlaterinthemorningdestroyedone enemyfighteranddamagedanother. ”1engagedayellownosedMe.109"-hesaidafterwardsdescribinghis success,"andgavehimanumberofbursts.Heturnedonhisbackand droppedintothesealikeastone.,Ihadnoreturnfire.AnotherMe.109 thenappearedonthesconeandIengagedhimatonce.Isawmybullets strikeinbehindtheengineandheshudderedviolently.Ithinkhewas seriouslydamaged." 7/5/41- N0.37. AIRMINISTRYNO.3826 AIR.MINISTRYCOMUNIQUE, An enemybomberwasshotdnvmofftheNorthEastcoastthisevening byfightersoftheRoyalAirForce.Thisbringsthenumberofenemy aircraftdestroyedindaylighttodaytoseven.