BOMBERS AT BERLIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 261, 2 October 1940, Page 7

BOMBERS AT BERLIN

SUSTAINED ATTACK.

OTHER, CENTRES RAIDED

(United Press Association—Copyright.)

(British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 1. An Air Ministry communique states that the R.A.E.’s visit to Berlin last night consisted of a sustained attack on objectives carried out by strong bomber forces.

Other bomber forces attacked -the oil refineries at Leuna and Hanover, the aircraft factory at Rotenburg. a munition factory near Magdeburg, the goods yards and rail communications at Bremen, Ehrang, Osnabruck, Mannheim,' and Brussels, the docks at Guxhaven and Amsterdam, the Channel ports of Ostend, Dunkirk. Calais, Bouiogne, and IjQ Havre, and several enemy aerodromes. In the course of these operations aircraft of the Bomber Command engaged and shot down an enemy aircraft into the sea. Coastal. Command aircraft operating with the Fleet Air Arm attacked the docks and petrol stores at Rotterdam and Vlaaraingen and shipping and stores at Ostend, and set fire to the oil dump at the Hamstede aerodrome. Five of our aircraft are missing. DAMAGE IN BERLIN.

Further details of the longest R.A.I. attack on military objectives in Berlin last night show that the west power station, badly damaged in the previous raids, was clearly identified by flares, and a few minutes after the first stick of bombs had fallen there was a large explosion, and numerous fires marked the success of the attack, the Klingeuberg power station was also heavily bombed. Railways were hit and a factory set alight.

The heavy bombers remained over Berlin from 10.30 p.m. to past 2 o’clock this morning.

Other R.A.F. bombers operated over widely-separated targets in Germany. At the railway yards at Mannheim bomb bursts were lollowed a second or two later by a violent explosion which developed into long lines of explosions so fierce and bright that our aircraft were lit up by them.

The, crew consider that either ammunition trains or a series of dumps had gone up.

The oil refineries at Hanover and Leuna, east of were also left ablaze. Bluish coloured explosions at Leuna. which was severely damaged some weeks ago. followed the droppm of many incendiary bombs. One very large fire was started in a building in the centre of the target and remained visible for ten minutes to our departing aircraft, and many lesser fires and explosions were seen.