HEAVY BOMBING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 252, 21 September 1940, Page 7

HEAVY BOMBING

-.// • = - VITAL GERMAN POINTS

BAD WEATHER EAGED

(United Press Association —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) (Bee. 11 a.m.) BUGBY, Sept. 20. All the British aircraft engaged on night operations on Thursday and Eriday 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 Dortmund-Ems Canal over the River Ems north of Munster —most vital links in Germany’s internal communications —have been the principal objectives. These had been seriously damaged by the R.A.F. last month, but repair gangs had since been working at high pressure to restore them to use. _ . On Thursday night British bombers flew through blinding rainstorms 1 and cloud that blanketed both land and sea, and many of the aircraft were iced as they flew high to surmount the clouds. Luckily, there came a, sudden break in the clouds right over the target. a.nd through this clear patch the pilots could easily see tho aqueducts and make "their runs accurately. AQUEDUCTS STRUCK. Sticks of high-explosive bombs were dropped across both aqueducts, and at least one burst was seen on the structure. Nearly an hour later another shallow - dive "attack was made again. A stick of bombs crashed across both aqueducts, and an observer saw clouds ot dust drifting away after an explosion. , .. Just before 3 a.m. another raider, who also emerged into a welcome clear patch after flying among dense clouds nearly all the way from the made an attack. He could see both aque-, ducts clearly as liis bombs were unloaded. The Channel ports were also shrouded in driving rain which oiteu turned to sleet. Nevertheless, another successful attack was made on Osteud and new fires 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 had left other bonibers 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 acress the Berbreed canal fires were already burning when lie arrived over the target. A pilot who flew over Flushing at 1500 ft dropping high explosives and incendiaries said lie saw five burst among barges on the Southern and Verbreed Canal. In Berlin it is authoritatively stated that the R.A.F. were over the Rhineland after midnight. Ten civilians were killed.