AUDACIOUS RAID

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 115, 13 April 1940, Page 7

AUDACIOUS RAID

BRITISH AIRMEN’S PLUCK. GERMANS LOSE HEAVILY. (British Official Wireless.) Received April 13, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, April 12. In an audacious bombing raid by British aircraft on Thursday night, which is the subject of an Air Ministry bulletin, considerable damage was done to. airfields at Stavanger (Norway). Numerous German fighters and bomber aeroplanes were wrecked by machine-gun fire and many of the staff and aircraft personnel were killed. The raid was carried out by Wellington bombers of the Coastal Command, accompanied by long-range fighters. The fighters arrived at Stavanger and dived upon the aerodrome, taking the enerav bv surprise. They sprayed the airfield, aircraft, and hangars with bullets before the anti-aircraft defences could lie brought into action. Between them they seriously damaged three Junker bombers, and it is estimated killed or injured twenty of the personnel in this initial attack upon the aerodrome. The moment the attack was finished and the British aircraft began to climb for a further offensive intense machinegun and anti-aircraft fire broke out. They escaped damage. Half an hour later the Wellington bombers arrived. Approaching from the east, they swept down on Stayangsr in another surprise attack* dropping heavy bombs. Immediately the bombers were met by intense, but inaccurate anti-aircraft fire. Despite this, they returned to the attack, machine-gunning the enemy machine-gun posts, anti-aircraft batteries. hangars, and aircraft on ,tne ground, considerable damage being done. A great fire was started. By tills time many German fighter! aircraft had reached the scene from I neighbouring aerodromes and attacked the raiders as they were alxmt to return, their task being completed. A (fierce battle was waged, but only one British aircraft failed to return to its base.