Hurricane Attack On Dutch Locks

Does anyone know more about this raid on the locks leading to Antwerp? Which squadrons were involved? What were the bombs used? Is the newspaper article accurate? Did they really do any real damage?

R.A.F. RAID

DUTCH CANAL LOCKS

BULL’S-EYE HITS SCORED

LONDON, September 2. The R.A.F. today destroyed another vital link in the enemy’s transport system in Holland. Hurricanes of the Fighter Command, escorted by Typhoon fighters, scored a series of bull’s-eye hits on three locks at the southern end of a canal which enables seagoing ships to enter and leave Antwerp without making the risky trip around one of the islands at the mouth of the Schelde.

The bombers got through to their target in spite of fierce anti-aircraft fire, and went down to almost roof-top level to drop their bombs. A squadron leader said: “The boys did a first-class job. They persevered in spite of the Huns’ worst flak, and scored many direct hits on the locks.” Another pilot said that the Germans splashed them with flak all the way from Ostend to Flushing and- back home again. He flew between trees whenever he could, to dodge it. “I dropped a whole packet straight on the gate of the inner lock,” he said, “and had to fly through the debris.” Three Hurricanes and one Typhoon failed to get back.

EVENING POST (New Zealand), 3 September 1943