Commentary

Commentary Ocean City Today June 10, 2022 Page 55 Rt. 90 survey asks obvious question

Pardon the cynicism, but the state’s opinion survey of what needs to be done to help Route 90 accommodate the increasing flow of traffic will no doubt reveal that ... something needs to be done to help Route 90 accommodate the increasing flow of traffic.

What that something might be is no secret, since Ocean City’s elected officials have been begging for years for a fourlane Route 90 and another bridge or the widening current one. There are no other options, so it would seem that the June 21 virtual public meeting set up by the State Highway Administration to assess the public’s thoughts on the matter is just a required part of the process.

This isn’t to belittle the effort, but the real questions regarding improvements to Route 90 are not about what to do, but how to do it and when.

Residents who have lived here for a while will recall all the studies, surveys and discussions devoted to the possibility of a new Route 50 bridge. That extended consideration led to ... well, the Cambria Hotel being built on the site where the new bridge was to empty into town.

As for the expansion of Route 90, the critical issues will be how to get the most traffic into and out of town at the least cost to the environment and the state’s highway money. Those are complicated questions that only experts can answer.

How the public feels about it is still important, since having citizen support for a project makes the realization of it much easier, but it remains that highway engineers, traffic experts and emergency services authorities already know that the current Route 90 isn’t going to meet the needs of this area much longer. And that assumes Ocean City experiences no extreme weather circumstances that necessitate mass evacuations in its busiest months.

So, yes, the public should attend the virtual meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 21, at https://mdot-sha-md90-us50-to-md528wo782b11-maryland.hub.arcgis.com.

But again, residents should understand that wanting something done is the easy part. Getting it done is another matter.

Ocean City Today

11934 Ocean Gateway, Suite 6, Ocean City, Md. 21842 Phone: 410-723-6397 / Fax: 410-723-6511.

EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson MANAGING EDITOR................................ Lisa Capitelli STAFF WRITERS .................................... Greg Wehner, ..........................................Jack Chavez, Mallory Panuska ACCOUNT MANAGERS.......... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier ..............................................................Amanda Shick CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Nancy MacCubbin SENIOR DESIGNER ................................ Susan Parks GRAPHIC ARTIST .................................... Kelly Brown PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts

PUBLIC EYE Dogs: real honesty

I have had dogs for so much of my life that it’s hard to imagine what my existence would be without them.

True, tumbleweeds of dog hair would no longer roll across the vast plain of the living room floor, no more would there be fascinating noseprint abstracts on the storm doors, and the intriguing checkerboard of lick marks on the kitchen tile — gone as well. Other than that — oh, I forgot to mention the creative drool art, being run out of the TV room because of air quality concerns and barking at 1 a.m. because, “SOMETHING’S OUTSIDE, I JUST KNOW IT” — life without a dog for me would be a big bowl of nothing at all.

I’ve thought about it quite a bit lately, as my faithful companions advance into their elder years. Crazy Eddie, for instance, might be more appropriately referred to as Where-Am-I Eddie, while the formerly feral Special K has found quiet satisfaction as a doorstop and an occasional lawn ornament.

From my reflections on this subject, I have concluded that dogs are superior to people in many respects. For one thing, they seldom lie, at least if food is not involved, in which case they will perjure themselves without remorse.

“Did you have your early-mid-afternoon-onthe-hour snack?” I’ll ask them because that’s what people do, as if dogs understand the human concept of complete sentences.

Their response, if they could talk as we semiexpect them to do, would be, “We haven’t had anything to eat in days. No, make that years. Come to think of it, we don’t even know what a snack is it’s been so long.”

You know they’re lying through their snaggley teeth, because you saw someone else do the snack duty thing about two minutes earlier. Otherwise, dogs are flat-out honest.

Say, for instance, you encounter someone you don’t like in a social circumstance. You’re going to act nice anyway because that’s what the situation demands.

A dog, on the other hand, doesn’t care if it’s getting a belly rub from the Queen of Denmark on live TV, it will send out the alarm the moment it sees someone it doesn’t like.

“Fed Ex guy alert! Fed Ex guy alert!”

Not that the Fed Ex guy has done anything to warrant that reaction, although the dog thinks, “I keep chasing that truck away, and it keeps coming back.”

Another thing dogs have going for them is that they don’t get hung up on appearances. If you say, “Let’s go out,” a dog will not reply, “My hair’s a mess.”

The fact is it could have Greenland-sized tufts sprouting on its head and still say, “OKAY! I’m ready to go, yup, yup, yup, ready, ready, ready.”

Even worse, you could be in the middle of a huge lunch crowd at a bayside restaurant that welcomes dogs on its beach, and your dog will assume the question mark position just like that.

“Oh sir? Sir! Your dog is ...”

“Yeah, I know. But it’s not like I can order him to reverse course once he’s gone past the equator.”

Admittedly, that’s not what you would call a wonderful thing, but it is honest, and it is funny ... if you give it 10 years or so.

But that’s how dogs are — fun, faithful and entertaining, even when you pretend, “That’s not my dog, lady. He must have followed me here.”

By Stewart Dobson

Worcester County grants cell tower code amendment

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (June 10, 2022) The Worcester County Commissioners approved an amendment to the zoning code on Tuesday that will restrict the placement of antennas to no less than 500 feet from a residential dwelling in agricultural districts, providing the Board of Zoning Appeals concurs.

The previous wording of the code permitted the towers to be constructed no less than 1,000 feet from residential buildings in A-1 and A-2 agricultural districts.

As part of the approval, the property owner must prove prime agricultural soils are protected and the land is actively being used for agricultural purposes.

The reduction would be based on protection of existing mature tree growth, steep slopes, wetlands, stream corridors, habitats of threatened or endangered species, or similar features on the property that the BZA members consider as reasons for allowing a particular site to be used.

Kristen Stelzer of the Silver Spring, Maryland-based Arcola Towers LLC requested the amendment change on behalf of its client, Josh Kurtz, who operates a farm on Taylor Road in

PHOTO COURTESY ARCOLA TOWERS LLC WEBSITE Arcola Towers LLC requested a modification to the Worcester County code that will allow towers to be placed no closer than 500 feet from residential dwellings on agriculturally-zoned parcels of land, with approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Snow Hill.

Stelzer told commissioners the family-owned farm is an excellent location to allow for a special exemption.

Kurtz and his father, James Kurtz, were also at the public hearing and told the commissioners that Arcola approached them about putting a cell tower on their property to help improve service.

“I mean, it’s terrible,” James said, referring to the cell phone service near his farm.

To erect a tower on the property under the current code — 1,000 feet away from all residential dwellings — would mean the tower would end up being in the middle of the field.

If placed there, a driveway would need to be cut through the farm and there would be a loss of profits and operations.

Moving the tower to another area, closer to buildings, would be more advantageous and a better fit, he said.

The tower would be placed into a nook where it is much more hidden and less intrusive to operations.

Commissioner Ted Elder said farms need to be preserved, but cellphone reception also needs to be improved, so this was a good compromise.

“I believe this is the right thing to do here,” Commissioner Josh Nordstrom said, agreeing with Elder and adding that it offers flexibility and a better signal.

Commissioner Chip Bertino, on the other hand, was concerned that the decision would go countywide.

The commissioner asked if there was a way to make this property-specific.

Bertino found out that can’t be done, since anyone requesting the reduction would need to go before the BZA for approval.

“Although this is for everyone, it doesn’t mean everyone will get it,” Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said. “Unfortunately, today, we live and die by the cell phone.”

When it came to a vote, the commissioners approved the reduction 52, with Commissioners Bertino and Jim Bunting voting against the measure.

Members of the People for Fiscal Responsibility Committee received more than half of the required signatures needed to get a referendum on the November ballot that allows the public to vote on whether Worcester County can purchase a parcel of land for $7.15 million near Stephen Decatur High School, to construct a sports complex on.

Petition shoots for sportsplex vote

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (June 10, 2022) The purchase of a 95.6-acre property in Berlin for $7.15 million could face a challenge at the ballot box as a committee operating under a fiscal responsibility banner is closing in on the required number of signatures to take the acquisition to referendum.

The People for Fiscal Responsibility committee out of Ocean Pines announced this week that its petition efforts for the first required period were successful. “In [a] little over three weeks our volunteers collected 3,064 valid signatures representing over 68 percent of the total number required,” Slobodan Trendid, a spokesperson for the committee said in a memo dated June 3. “We are proud of our collective team efforts and humbled by the responses received from the residents of the communities in our county.”

On April 19, the Worcester County Commissioners voted to purchase the nearly 100-acre parcel of land situated to the west of Stephen Decatur High School. The money will come out of the $11.2 million in bonds earmarked for financing a portion of the costs associated with designing, engineering, construction, equipping, and furnishing of a potential sports complex.

But the vote for the purchase was not unanimous. Commissioners Chip Bertino, Jim Bunting, and Ted Elder voted against it.

Bertino, at the time, said he was against it because he did not want the taxpayers to pay for the project, and Bunting said he was afraid it would become a wasted investment.

Although a commissioner majority voted to approve the purchase, a provision in the county government code allows decisions by the commissioners to be voted on in a referendum, providing the requisite number of registered voters sign a petition demanding it.

“Our petition is designed to trigger a referendum regarding the county’s plan to issue a general obligation bond to fund a portion of costs related to the sports complex,” Trendic said. “Signing our petition is not a vote for or against the project. The petition simply brings the issue to the voters to decide.”

Trendid and the committee have until July 1 to collect at least 2,000 additional signatures to move closer to getting the issue on the ballot.

Volunteers plan to blanket the county in search for signatures, while also attending the Ocean Pines Farmers Market every Saturday, and Berlin Farmers Market on Sundays.

In order to get a referendum on the ballot, petitioners must collect 10 percent of the registered voters in the county. The committee, in this case, had 40 days to collect half of the signatures, sort of as a down payment, and another 40 days to collect the remaining 50 percent of the required signatures.

Once garnered, the measure would be automatically added to the ballot unless the commissioners abandon the purchase.

Lois James d.d.s.

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Routine Dental Cleanings • Fillings Crowns • Bridges • Implant Restorations Cosmetic Procedures • TMJ Disorders & Sleep Appliances Accepting New Patients

302-537-4500 • DrLoisJames.com 17 Atlantic Ave, Ste. 4 Route 26 • Ocean View (Next to Oceanova)

Ortt managing partner hits back after ‘direct threat’ from Peck on Janasek ban

By Stewart Dobson Editor/Publisher (June 10, 2022) The ramifications of a May 20 confrontation at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club between former Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors member Tom Janasek and current member Josette Wheatley continued this week with a board hearing scheduled, an ultimatum emailed and the yacht club management’s response to what it perceived as a threat. In a special meeting tonight (Thursday), the board will consider a motion by Director Frank Daly to suspend Janasek’s privileges at the club and other amenities. In addition, Ralph DeAngelus, managing partner of the Matt Ortt Companies, which runs the yacht club and other food venues for the OPA, has responded to what he considers to be a threatening email from Director Amy Peck, who said she would hold him and the club personally responsible were she to experience any abuse from Janasek at an Orttmanaged venue in Ocean Pines.

The May 20 incident unraveled when Janasek confronted Wheatley and her husband at the yacht club tiki bar. The ensuing argument escalated to the point that yacht club staff escorted Janasek off the property, although he allegedly returned later.

The upshot of that encounter was that the board began discussions of banning Janasek from OPA amenities, and Wheatley obtained a District Court order on May 25 that prohibited Janasek from having any contact with her through Dec. 1.

In the interim, however, Peck, “as a homeowner, not as a director,” sent an email to DeAngelus and the company that declared she did not feel safe at the Matt Ortt food venues in Ocean Pines unless “I know Josette is going to be in attendance and her protective order would make Janasek leave.”

The order, however, does not prohibit Janasek from being present wherever Wheatley is, including the yacht club. All it provides for is that he is not allowed to have contact with her — even though the two might occupy the same space. Nevertheless, Peck added that if she experienced any abuse from Janasek at the yacht club and the OPA venues the company overees, she would hold DeAngelus and the company responsible.

Below is the response from DeAngelus.

As you know, we received an email from Director Amy Peck regarding her opinion about what Ocean Pines Association “policy” should be for Tom Janasek, which contained clear misstatements and a direct threat to me personally, my business partner, and my company.

Frankly, I’m baffled by her e-mail. She says that the Matt Ortt Companies should set a policy that bans Tom Janasek from all OPA food and beverage properties. However, she is on the Board, and she knows we don’t have the power to arbitrarily set OPA policy. She also knows that I was directly told by General Manager John Viola, President Collette Horn, Vice-President Frank Daly, Police Chief Leo Ehrisman, and OPA attorney Jeremy Tucker that, in response to the incident, we handled the situation exactly as we should have when we walked Mr. Janasek off the property after his encounter with Board member Josette Wheatley. But, apparently our actions, although they were appropriate to most, weren’t enough for her.

In addition to directing us to take arbitrary action, Ms. Peck said in her e-mail that should she get harassed by Mr. Janasek, she is going to “hold us personally accountable.” How is this even possible? I am not aware of any issues she has had with Mr. Janasek, and even if I did, how can she hold us accountable for someone else’s actions? It seems abundantly clear that she’s trying to bully us into doing something that she knows would open us up to civil litigation. She is a board member and, as such, is in control of our livelihood. She has the ability to vote for or against new contracts — contracts that would keep our company and its 200 OPA employees working, or not working, for years to come.

It is unclear what she is trying to accomplish by bullying a vendor that has worked so hard every day to better the Ocean Pines community — a vendor that, through Covid’s darkest hours, had its entire management team personally deliver thousands of family meals, at their own expense and in their own vehicles, to Ocean Pines residents who were too worried to go out.

At best, she’s created a hostile work environment; at worst, she has a vendor that sits back and has to think to themselves why are we working so hard for someone who cares so little about us. Being a Board member is a great honor as well as a great responsibility; however, her words in that email were neither honorable nor responsible. Now, I understand that she was cho-

Tom Janasek

for SALES VOLUME IN THE COASTAL ASSOC. OF REALTORS 2016 - 2019

Bradford

Associate Broker • Lic. in MD & DE 410-430-6875 Drew

Associate Broker • Lic. in MD & DE 410-430-2602

11065 Cathell Rd. Ocean Pines • 410-208-9200 www.PO2Team.com

21 ABBOTT PLACE • OCEAN PINES, MD

OPEN HOUSE: SATURDAY, 10AM-1PM New Listing

$349,900

You found HOME with this 4BR/3BA cottage style house. Completely renovated in 2016 w/Roof, Windows, Flooring, Kitchen, Heat Pump, Baths, Appliances, Exterior Siding, Decks & Screen Porch. Kitchen has ss appliances and offers plenty of counterspace to work and overlooks the living/dining rooms. Great room area has a tongue and groove style ceiling that gives such a cozy affect and perfectly matches w/the brick fireplace. In 2017 a garage was added w/a primary bedroom suite above to include a walk-in closet and LVT flooring. This home sits on a wonderful corner lot that feels spacious and is convenient to the amenities of South Gate of Ocean Pines. You won't want to miss this one- Come see it for yourself!! Call for an appointment today!

325 SCHOONER LANE • BERLIN, MD

OPEN HOUSE: SATURDAY, 11-1PM New Listing

$289,000

Live the life you love at this end-unit townhome located in Decatur Farms Community. This 3BR/2.5BA home is perfectly located only a few minutes away from downtown Berlin. Open living/dining area showcases custom built-ins, fireplace, and bay window. Kitchen is equipped w/breakfast bar, tile backsplash and is open to the family room. Large primary bedroom offers spacious walk-in closet and primary bath w/dual sink vanity and linen closet. Newer water heater and HVAC system. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to own in Decatur Farms- schedule your tour today! See OPA Page 59

June 9 - June 16

DAY/TIME ADDRESS BR/BA STYLE PRICE AGENCY/AGENT

Fri-Mon, 11am-4pm Heron Harbour, 120th St., Bayside 1BR/2BR/3BR/4BR+ Condos, Towns & SF - Nanette Pavier/Holiday Real Estate Saturday, 10am-1pm 21 Abbott Pl., Ocean Pines 4BR/3BA Single Family $349,900 PO2 Team/Hileman Real Estate Saturday, 11am-1pm 325 Schooner Ln., Berlin 3BR/3BA Single Family $289,000 PO2 Team/Hileman Real Estate Saturday, 10am-1pm 6014 S. Point, Berlin 4BR/3.5BA Single Family $1,512,000 PO2 Team/Hileman Real Estate Saturday, 10am-1pm 28 Pintail Drive, Berlin 3BR/4BA Single Family $785,000 PO2 Team/Hileman Real Estate Saturday, 11am-1:30pm 13009 Bowline Lane, Unit 3, Ocean City 4BR/3.5BA Condo $849,900 Nancy Reither-Smith/Coldwell Banker Realty Sunday, 1:30pm-4:30pm 13009 Bowline Lane, Unit 3, Ocean City 4BR/3.5BA Condo $849,900 Nancy Reither-Smith/Coldwell Banker Realty

OPA partner says they won’t do more than law requires

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

Continued from Page 58 sen for the position by Board members as an alternate, and not voted into the position by the residents of Ocean Pines. However, if she took on the responsibility of a Board member, she should live up to it, and living up to it starts with an apology, at a bare minimum. We here at Matt Ortt Companies have been asked many, many times our thoughts on OPA politics. Throughout our entire tenure here in Ocean Pines, we have said over and over again that we only run the food and beverage operations, and that it’s not our place to give our advice or opinion on politics. We stand by that to this day.

We are a vendor, working for Ocean Pines. A vendor that, as of April 30, 2022, set an all-time record for combined food & beverage yearly profits. A vendor, whose hard work has not only paid off financially for Ocean Pines homeowners but has brought the Yacht Club to the highest levels of customer satisfaction it has ever achieved. That’s what we stand behind. And we are very proud of it. Ralph DeAngelus Matt Ortt

(June 10, 2022) OPA Board of Directors member Amy Peck responded this week to the public letter written by Ralph DeAngelus concerning Peck’s email to him advising him that Tom Janasek should be banned from the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.

She said her private email to him was leaked and she only learned of his response when she received a screenshot of it, which had been posted on a social media page that follows Ocean Pines. “They got the letter and I didn’t and I’m on the board. That’s a little concerning,” Peck said. “I was informing (Matt Ortt officials) of updates

in the situation (between Janasek and Josette Wheatley) because I had just come back from the hearing that I attended with Josette. I’m concerned about the liability that the association could face if there is a repeat incident.” Peck repeated that her chief concerns in addressing DeAngelus were liability and safety. When asked if she felt safe in Janasek’s presence anywhere, she replied “not at all.” Art council competition next month (June 10, 2022) The Worcester County Arts Council invites all artists to participate in a juried art competition and exhibit to be presented during the month of July at the Gallery located at 6 Jefferson Street in Berlin.

The exhibition is open to all established or emerging artists (18 years old and older) with work in all media.

The subject: “Celebrate” is open to the artist’s individual expression and interpretation.

All entries must be original and completed within the last three years. Detailed guidelines for the competition are available on the Arts Council’s website, www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org. Entries must be delivered to the Arts Council’s Gallery between June 28-30, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to be accepted. Artwork will be juried in and judged for the competition by local artist and art instructor, Kate Cashman. Artists must submit a juried exhibit entry form, upon artwork delivery. Monetary prizes will be awarded during an open-to-the-public reception to be held on July 8 from 5-7 p.m. For more information, visit

Amy Peck Entrants also exhibit works, www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org. open to new and seasoned artists, will be live all July The Worcester County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support, promote and encourage visual, performing, and literary arts in Worcester County. As designated by the Maryland State Arts Council County arts agency, the Worcester County Arts Council is committed to fostering the excellence, diversity, and vitality of arts, artists, and arts organizations and increasing access to the arts for all members of our community. The Worcester County Arts Council is funded by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council and supported by memberships, donations, and local sponsorships.

TIDEWATER PHYSICAL THERAPY

MEDICARE CERTIFIED, REHABILITATION AGENCY SERVING DELMARVA SINCE 1984

SPECIALIZING IN: • Orthopedic and Sports Injuries • Balance Impairments • Neurological Rehabilitation • Soft Tissue Mobilization • Pre and Postoperative Care • Vestibular Rehabilitation • Fall Prevention • Joint Replacement Care Initial Evaluation Within 24 Hours Accepting Most Insurances No Referral Required

Kristof Krajewski, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

VISIT OUR WELLNESS CENTER 11312 Manklin Creek Rd. Suites 3 & 4 Ocean Pines, MD 21811 P 410-208-3440 • F 410-208-3505

Nazis take Tobruk, but British snatch back

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer (June 10, 2022) This week, 80 years ago, British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, was in Washington for the hastily arranged Second Washington Conference. At a meeting at the White House between the president, the prime minister and the brass of the two militaries, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was quietly handed a note.

After quickly reading it, he passed it to his British counterpart without comment. The note contained news that the Libyan port city of Tobruk had been surrendered to Gen. Erwin Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika. After the P.M. read the note, the president simply asked, “What can we do to help?” Churchill replied, “Give us as many Sherman tanks as you can spare and ship them to the Middle East as quickly as possible.”

Not long thereafter, 300 Sherman tanks, 100 105 mm self-propelled guns, and 150 instructors were on their way to Egypt. Churchill told the president, “I am the most miserable Englishman in America since Burgoyne” (the general that lost the Battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War).

In January 1941, the 6th Australian Division, commanded by Even MacKay, had captured the port and its 25,000-man Italian garrison in a siege that lasted two weeks. The following month, German Gen. Erwin Rommel arrived in Libya, together with German troops, and the Italian Ariete Armored Division.

An RAF Westland Lysander flies over a convoy of British lorries during the retreat into Egypt, June 26, 1942.

By the end of March, the Axis armies were on the move. By midApril, they had advanced more than 600 miles, driving Commonwealth forces out of Libya — except for Tobruk — which the Axis surrounded on three sides and besieged for 241 days.

Finally, on Nov.18, 1941, the British Eighth Army, under the command of Lt. Gen. Alan Cunningham launched Operation Crusader, which relieved the siege and drove the Axis forces out of Cyraenica, the eastern part of Libya.

Today, Tobruk is a city of about 300,000, located in Libya on the Mediterranean Sea, less than 80 miles from the Egyptian border. It is 288 miles east of Benghazi, 388 miles east of Agedabia and 630 miles by air from Tripoli. It probably has the best natural harbor in North Africa, which made it important for any Axis invasion of Egypt from Libya.

In the six months after the Axis siege of Tobruk was lifted, its defenses had been allowed to fall into disrepair. Without maintenance, sand had filled the trenches and antitank ditches. Many of the mines that protected Tobruk were removed and used on the now-breached Gazala Line.

Much of its artillery had also been removed. Air superiority had been ceded to the Axis when the RAF abandoned its forward bases for fear of capture and relocated to Sidi Barrani, 150 miles to the east in Egypt.

Following the Allied defeat at the Battle of Gazala, the British brass was divided as to whether to try to hold Tobruk, as they had done the year before, or to withdraw the entire Eighth Army into Egypt to regroup.

It was decided, under pressure from the Prime Minister, to hold the port with the 2nd South African Division, commanded by Major-Gen. Hendrik Klopper, together with two tank regiments, a battalion each of Coldstream Guards, Sherwood Foresters, Worcestershires, Cameroon Highlanders, Mahrattas from India and Ghurkas from Nepal, two artillery regiments and an engineer regiment.

Likewise, the Axis brass was divided as to whether to try to take Tobruk, with the high command wanting to restrain the “Desert Fox,” while Malta was attacked. But there was no time, because Rommel attacked immediately, saying, “The time has come to put a lid on Tobruk!” By June 18, the port had been surrounded.

On June 20, 1942, at 5:40 a.m., the Axis assault against the city began with a terrifying Stuka dive-bomber attack and artillery bombardment. As a German soldier said, “One must see the Stuka attacks if they are to understand the fall of Tobruk.”

In addition to the devastating psychological effect of the screaming Stukas diving upon their targets, they were also used to clear the mine fields by dropping bombs on them, which Continued on Page 62