Hamburg Pasted For Three Hours

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 215, 10 September 1940, Page 7

Hamburg Pasted For Three Hours

ATTACKS BY R.A.F. Many Other Targets Wrecked In Concentrated Raids (British Official Wireless.—Rec. noon.) RUGBY. September 9. R.A.F. bombers, which made a concentrated attack on Hamburg last night, were over the docks and shipyards in relays for over three hours Methodically pin-pointing their targets, they released salvo after salvo of heavy bombs and hundreds of incendiary bombs. Repeatedly sticks of heavy bombs were seen to crash across the docks and port installations. Many sticks of high explosive bombs straddled the Blohm and Voss yards Fires broke out in many parts of a wide target area. Although some died down again, others caught on and burned fiercely. A crew of one aircraft saw the wharves and railway station on the north bank of the Elbe burning, another fire at Hanshafen and the glow of a third down stream near Altona. One of the early raiders which dropped a stick of bombs across the docks saw two fires begin about 500 yards apart on the north bank close to the mouth of the Elbe tunnel. By I 1 p.m. low clouds had formed, and a pilot arriving then said: '"We could see little owing to clouds, haze, darkness and heavy anti-aircraft fire, but we did see our bombs straddle the docks." Bombs could be seen bursting among the dockside buildings while the fierce anti-aircraft barrage continued. More fires broke out and they were burning fiercely as the bombers left. The glare in the sky over the docks could be seen from 60 miles away by the raiders on the homeward journey. Enemy ports, shipping and barge concentrations were heavily attacked by the R.A.F. yesterday and last night, according to an Air Ministry communique, which states that, in the course of routine reconnaissances yesterday. British bombers attacked shipping in the ports of Dunkirk and Boulogne, and convoys in the North Sea. Five British aircraft are missing from these attacks. Last night, in spite of severe weather conditions over the continental coastline, strong forces of bombers carried out operations against enemy and enemy-occupied ports, barge concentrations and shipping at Hamburg. Bremen. Emden, Ostend, Calais and Boulogne. Widespread damage was also done to oil ranks and ammunition stores, and many fires were started. Eight British aircraft did not return from these raids.