BOMBING FORAYS

Evening Star, Issue 23687, 21 September 1940, Page 11

BOMBING FORAYS

BRITISH SQUADRONS ACTIVE NO HALT IN NIGHTLY OFFENSIVES UNDETERRED BY WINTRY WEATHER (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 20. (Received September 21, at 10.35 a.m.) All the British aircraft engaged in the night operations of Thursday and 'Friday against targets in enemy or enemy-occupied territory returned safely. The weather was most unfavourable, according to the Air Ministry news service.

The aqueducts which carry the Dort-mund-Ems canal over the river Ems north of Munster, one of the most vital links in Germany’s internal communications, were the principal objectives. These had been seriously damaged by the R.A.F. last month, but repair gangs have since been working at high pressure to restore them to use. On Thursday night the British bombers flew through a blinding rain storm and cloud that blanketed both land and sea. Many aircraft were iced as they flew high to surmount the clouds. Luckily there came a sudden break in the clouds right over the target, and through this clear patch the pilots could easily ste the aqueducts and thus make their runs accurately. Sticks of high explosives were dropped across both aqueducts. At least one buret was seen on the structure. Nearly an hour later another shallow dive attack was made, and again a stick of bombs crashed across both aqueducts, and an observer saw clouds of dust drifting away after the explosion. Just before 3 a. nr. another raider, who also emerged into a welcome clear patch after flying among dense clouds nearly all the way from his base, made an attack. He could see both aqueducts clearly as his bombs were unloaded.

The Channel ports were also shrouded in driving rain, which often turned to sleet. Nevertheless, another successful attack was made on Ostend. New fires were started, one at the north end of the main basin and another near two rows of warehouses, which caught fire by the time the raiders left. Other bombers attacked the new tidal harbour and, despite intense searchlight glare, a later raider saw a large fire burning on the quayside. A pilot who attacked Flushing Harbour saw heavy explosions in the harbour works and outer harbour, and also on the Verbroed Canal. Fires were already burning when he arrived over the target. A pilot who flew over Flushing at 1,500 ft dropping high explosives and in°eridiaric& said he saw five hursts among barges at the southern end of the Yerhrecd Canal. They caused a series of minor explosions, followed by violent explosion with green flames. Incendiaries started fires among barges extendng over about 100 yards. The Dunkirk docks were also attacked from a low level in spite of intense anti-aircraft fire.

Other squadrons bombed railway yards at Mannheim and Erhang, goods yards at Eueckarau, four miles south of Mannheim, and the main railway lines at Coblenz. Attacks were also made on the bridge over the Rhine near Trier, the canal between Veere Middleburg, in Holland, and aerodromes at Munsterhansdorf and Bergen-op-zoom.