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Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 130, 2 May 1940, Page 9

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R.A.F. ASSAULTS. ON NAZI AIR BASES. SUCCESSFUL RESULTS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received May 2, 9.50 a.m. RUGBY, May 1. The Air Ministry announces : “Large concentrations of enemy aircraft were reported yesterday at air bases in Norway and Denmark. Extensive attacks were, therefore, launched by strong forces of R.A.F. bomber aircraft last night on the aerodromes at Stavanger, Fornebu (Oslo) and Aalborg (Denmark).

A Press Association message says that the R.A.F. again raided Stavanger this morning. No German fighters were encountered and the previous damage , was visible. Further hits were made. .

“The attacks were pressed home in the face of strong opposition from antiaircraft guns and lighters. “Preliminary reports indicate that heavy damage was done on the aerodromes and on the aircraft dispersed there. Casualties were inflicted on enemy fighters. At least three are known to have been shot down. “Seven of our aircraft were lost during these operations. “Further attacks have been carried out this morning.”

DAMAGE OBSERVED. The raids by the Royal Air Force Bomber Command on Stavanger began on Tuesday afternoon .and continued into the early hours of this morning. Later a new force of Royal Air Force bombers launched a daylight attack on the already damaged air base. While in the earlier attacks the British raiders had met with strong opposition from the German fighters, during the latest raid they were not encountered. The damage inflicted on the air base in the recent attacks was plainly visible to tlie ' latest raiders when, in perfect weather, and with a visibility of fifty miles, the aerodrome was attacked with large numbers of high-explosive bombs, and bursts of smoke and flame recorded a series of hits on the landing ground. All the British aircraft engaged in this daylight raid returned safely to their bases.

The night attacks on Fornebu, near Oslo, and Aalborg, in occupied Denmark, resulted in these aerodromes being badly damaged. One of ■ the strongest forces yet engaged in a single night’s operations took part in these three raids, from which seven machines failed to return. When the advance guard of the British raiding force reached-Stavanger late on Tuesday afternoon large numbers of enemy aircraft on the - ground were attacked with high-explosive and incendiary bombs, which hurst within the target area. HEAVY ATTACK. Meanwhile enemy fighters had taken off and in a series of running fights one Messersclimitt 109 was shot down by the rear-gunner of a Blenheim who, after firing a short burst, saw his victim turn to port, fall off in a spin, and crash liead-011 in the sea. Following soon after the first raid came another and still stronger force of bombers. Approaching in a shallow dive, the British bombers launched their attack from different directions, battering the ground defences and registering hits on all parts of the aerodrome. Salvoes of high-explosive bombs were seen to straddle the principal runways and explode in a line from tlie centre to tlie northwest boundary. Other heavy bombs burst parallel to tlie runway and alongside the landing ground, close, to enemy aircraft.

The fighter opposition was intense, and on leaving two British aircraft were pursued and vigorously engaged by four Messersclimitt 109 and 110 fighters. A Messersclimitt 109, closing in on tlie rearmost bomber, was seen to hurst into flames and crash into the sea. A minute later the British bomber came under the concentrated fire of several attackers and was forced down into the water.

Two other British bombers were also engaged by two Messerschmitt 109 fighters As the British formation dived from 2000 ft almost to sea level, the tail gunners returned the firo and after four short bursts one enemy aircraft burst into flames and crashed into the sea, its companion then breaking off the engagement. The third phase of the attack on Stavanger came after, dark, when another force of bombers subjected the aerodrome to a series of raids that continued into the early hours of the morning. Strong opposition was encountered from the ground defences, but, employing varying tactics of approach, tlie aircraft succeeded in reaching their objective and inflicting still further damage on the air base. FIERCE FIRES. During the attacks on the Aalborg and Fornebu aerodromes daring the night, high-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped. A fire visible some thirty miles away was started by the first attack on Fornebu and later aircraft arriving just before midnight were guided to their target as the fire burnt fiercely on the edge of the aerodrome and oil the promontories east and south of it.

Anti-aircraft guns attempted to screen the target with a barrage; but could not hold off Lhe attackers, who ran the gauntlet of the .powerful defences and dropped bombs on the hangars and runways. One large hangar was hit and set on fire, and new fires were started which were still blazing at the end of the raid.