HUGE EXPLOSION

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

HUGE EXPLOSION

NAZI SUPPLY SHIP BOMBED. PILOT’S EXPERIENCES. j (British Official Wireless.) ( Received April 13. 11.10 a.m. RUGBY, April 12. The German supply ship which wsu-l | successfully bombed by the R.A.F. in Danish waters on Thursday night was | first detected hv a light parachute flare dropped by the attacking aircraft. 'the night was pitch dark, said tho captain of one of the British aircraft describing his experiences, “and at first there appeared to he very littla traffic in the target area. Then we spotted a faint, small light bobbing on the- dark surface of the water. It seemed worth investigation, so coming down low we turned sharply towards it and released a parachute flare. The dazzling light made the sea almost as bright as day and below us we saw about ten grey-coloured ships, steaming north in company at about ten knots. ‘Flaming onions’ and anti-air-craft fire came sailing up at us as wo manoeuvred into position and with onr target clearly illuminated by the slowly descending flares we launched our attack. “We dropped several bombs in quick succession and it .was the Inst to go that found a target. There was a mighty explosion as if an ammunition store had been blown up or a boiler exploded. We were jerked about 30ft upwards by the force of the explosion and our tail gunner, when he had recovered his balance, reported that sparks of fire could be seen shooting out from the ship.”

The captain of this aircraft is a squadron-leader who lms been in the R.A.F. since he was 17.]. He was also the pilot of the first aircraft to bomb Sylt in the recent raid. His second pilot last night, a young New Zealander and former wool buyer, also has previous exploits to his credit, having been a member of the crew who last | November brought their bomber safely | home across the North Sea after a j great part of the covering of one wing • had been stripped off over Germany.