R.A.F. RAID ON BREMEN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 5

R.A.F. RAID ON BREMEN

Widespread Fires HEAVY WEIGHT OF, BOMBS

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 5. “Last night a strong formation of our bombers attacked the German port of Bremen,” an Air Ministry, communique states. “A heavy weight of bombs was dropped and many fires were left.burning.” Fighter Command aircraft were over northern France during the night. Eleven aircraft of the Bomber Command are missing.

The raid on Bremen was the ninetyninth carried out in that area since the beginning of the war, including the thousand-bomber raid on June 25. Reconnaissance at 10 a.m. revealed fires still burning in the commercial centre of Bremen.

When the bombers attacked, the docks, the river and the town were easily seen, and the first planes started fires that revealed the whole area. The attack was limited to half an hour, but the last bomber crews saw that the fires had taken a widespread hold. Anti-aircraft fire was very intense. One crew reported an attack by a Junkers 88, which was hit and rolled down toward the sea.

The Air Ministry states: “On Thursday night a small force of our bombers attacked objectives on the northwest coast of Germany. Two of our aircraft are missing.”

TARGETS IN FRANCE U.S. And British Planes (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. 5.

The (bombing of Le Havre and Rouen is announced jointly by the British and. United States air authorities. Light and heavy United States bombers made two attacks on the docks at Le Havre in the morning and the railway yards at Rouen in the afternoon, the first raid being by Bostons and the second by Flying Fortresses. Many bursts were seen on the targets.

(Many squadrons of fighters took part in both operations, R.A.F., United States, Dominion and Allied squadrons being engaged in escorting and in diversionary sweeps. Two enemy fighters were destroyed and six of ours are missing. All the bombers returned safely.

BOMBING OF BRITAIN Germans Use New Plane (Received September 6, 8.30 p.m.)' LONDON, Sept. 5. According to the “Aeroplane,” Germany’s newest and biggest bomber, the Heinkel 177, which is comparable to the Lancaster, made its first raid on Britain on August 28, when Bristol was bombed in daylight.