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R.A.F. OPERATIONS

ATTACKS ON GERMANY MOST WIDESPREAD OF WAR CARRIED OUT DESPITE POOR CONDITIONS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. (Received October 4, at-9.10 a.m.) “ Thick cloud and' poor visibility hampered tho operations of R.A.F bombers last night,” states an Air Ministry communique. “ Nevertheless strong forces of aircraft continued the attacks on military objectives in Germany and enemy-occupied territory Among the targets were oil plants at Stettin, Hamburg, and Bottrop, the Krupps works at Essen, goodsyards at Cologne, a railway junction near Hamm, and several enemy aerodromes. The docks at Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven and ports and shipping at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Flushing, Ostend, Calais, Cherbourg, and Ushant were also bombed. Blenheims of the Coastal Command yesterday destroyed a bomber which unsuccessfully attacked one of our convoys. A Hudson last night shot down a bomber into the sea. Two of ours have not returned.” Oil storage plants, dock installations, and enemy-occupied aerodromes were the chief objectives in last night’s raids by aircraft of tho Bomber Command. These raids were the most widespread of the war. Bad weather over the greater part of the operations area, with a fully overcast sky and a cloud layer which extended from 6,000 ft to 15,000 ft over tho Dutch and Belgian coasts, severely hindered the raiders, who had also to contend with iceforming conditions at low levels. HAMBURG SINGLED OUT. The night’s heaviest attack was launched against Hamburg, where a largo oil factory storage plant was subjected to nearly two hours’ intensive bombardment by relays of heavy bombers. Opening the attack shortly after 10 p.m., the first raider scored direct hits on the target and started four separate fires, which soon spread and merged into one great blaze. High explosives from the following aircraft also struck tho oil storage plant. A salvo which fell in the centre of tho target urea caused a violent explosion and an up rush of flames which gave off clouds of thick, black smoke. Gaining a firm hold, and growing in intensity, this fire was seen by later arrivals as they approached the target from 50 miles out to sea. Helped by the light of the lire, a second wave of aircraft unloaded more bombs on tho oil plant and started a second great blaze. Both fires were still burning strongly and sending great clouds /of black smoke billowing across tho River Elbe as the last of tho attacking force turned for home. TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION. Other night bombing forces concentrating on docks and harbours in Germany and enemy-occupied territories raided Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven, Stettin, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Flushing, Ostend, and Ymniden. Fires wore started near the shipbuilding yards at Hamburg, and at Antwerp sticks of high explosives were seen to burst across the quay wall and along ono side of the dock basin. The naval dockyard at, Wilhelrashaven was subjected to a series of attacks lasting nearly an hour. Another raiding force which penetrated deep to Germany’s Baltic coast attacked the harbour works near Stettin. Other raiders bombed Krupp’s armament factory at Essen, where a vivid explosion broke out after the bombing. Attacks on aerodromes were widespread, a total of 13 being bombed in the night’s operations. BERLINERS TAKE SHELTER CONTINUOUS EXPLOSIONS HEARD BERLIN. October 3. (Received October 4, at 9.10 a.m.) The sirens aroused Berliners from their sleep early this morning. They were forced to remain in the shelters 72 minutes. The raiders concentrated on the north-west industrial area where the explosions were continuous. DUT6H CASUALTIES AMSTERDAM, October 3, (Received October 4, at 11 a.m.) Seventeen persons were killed and 20 injured during an air raid on Haarlem. PROPERTY CONFISCATED PROMINENT FRENCH NATIONALS VICHY, October 3. (Received October 4, at 11 a.m.) A decree confiscates the property of Madame ’i'abouis, “ Pertinax,” Pierre Cot, and other prominent persons. ALBANIAN FRONTIER GREEK AND ITALIAN TROOP MOVEMENTS LONDON. October 3. (Received October 4, at 11 a.m.) Tho Alliens correspondent of the British United Press reports that Greek troops moved up to the Albanian frontier after heavy Italian troop movements near the frontier.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19401004.2.48

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
670

R.A.F. OPERATIONS Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 5

R.A.F. OPERATIONS Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 5

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