DELUGE OF BOMBS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24400, 11 September 1940, Page 7

DELUGE OF BOMBS

THE RAID ON HAMBURG CONCENTRATED ATTACK DOCKS AND SHIPYARDS <British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) . (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Sept. 9. R.A.F. bombers which made a concentrated attack on Hamburg last night were over the docks and shipyards in relays for over three hours. Methodically pinpointing their targets, they released salvo after salvo of heavy bombs and hundreds of incendiary bombs. Repeatedly sticks of heavy bombs were seen to crash across the docks and port installations. Many sticks of high explosives straddled the Blohm and Voss yards. Fires broke out at many parts of the wide target area. Although some died down again others caught on and burned fiercely. The crew of one aircraft saw wharves and the railway station on the north bank, of the Elbe burning, another fire at Hanshaffen, and the glow of a third downstream near Altona. One ol the early raiders who dropped a stick across the docks saw two fires begin about 500 yards apart on the north bank close to the mouth of the Elbe tunnel. By 11 p.m. low cloud had formed. The pilot arriving then said:, “ We could see little owing to clouds, haze, darkness, and heavv anti-aircraft fire, but we did see our bombs straddle the docks.” Bombs could be seen bursting among the dockside buildings while the fierce anti-aircraft barrage continued. More fires broke out, , and they were. burning fiercely as the bombers left. The glare in the sky over.the docks could be seen from 60 miles away by the raiders on <the homeward journey.

Methodic?.! Destruction

Enemy ports, shipping, and barge concentrations were heavily attacked by the R.A.F. yesterday and last night, according to an Air Ministry communique, which states that in the course of routine reconnaissances yesterday our bombers attacked shipping in the ports of Dunkirk and Boulogne and convoys in the North Sea. Five of our aircraft are missing, Last night, in spite of severe weather conditions over the Continental coastline., strong forces of bombers carried out operations against enemy and enemy-occupied ports, barge concentrations,' and shipping at Hamburg. Bremen, Emdeh. Ostend, Calais, and Boulogne. Widespread damage was done to oil tanks and ammunition stores. Many fires were started. Eight of our aircraft did not return. The German radio, describing the R.A.F. raid on Hamburg, says between 60 and 70 bombs fell, destroying 30 dwelling-houses. No military objectives were hit. The British also bombed residential districts in Kiel and Lueneberg. “The British Air Force, too weak and cowardly to meet the Germans in open battle, re-: stricts itself to defence and night attacks against Germany.” it stated. Emden Dockyard Bombed “ Fires have been started which are quite as big as anything I saw in London.” This was the description of the result of bombs dropped by R.A.F. aircraft on Emden dockyard, and it was made by a rear gunner who had been spending leave in London. The attack on Emden was made on Sunday night at the same time as other British aircraft were bombing Boulogne. Some raiders on an occupied French harbour, however, experienced difficult weather conditions on the way to the target. Leaving England in fine conditions the aircraft encountered electrical storms after half an hour’s journey. As freezing level was only 6000 feet, it was impossible to rise above, and they were unable to get below as it went down as far as ground level. Aircraft Tossed About Describing the voyage the pilot of one aircraft said: “Our aircraft was being thrown about the sky, and it was absolutely impossible to keep steady speed or height. Once or twice we were jerked up at least 600 feet by an electrical current. When we got over the target the port engine was hit and there was a burst of flame as the oil started burning. Then the flames disappeared. but we were running on an engine and a-half for the ’ rest of the time. On the way back we found the wireless out of action owing to a storm. It was largely thanks to the navigator that we got home. He gave me courses which brought us in dead over the aerodrome. Just as we were turning in to land the port engine failed completely.”