INVASION BASES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24411, 24 September 1940, Page 7

INVASION BASES

ANOTHER FIERCE ATTACK THE BOMBER COMMAND A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Sept. 22. With the weather ideal for an invasion attempt, the R.A.F. for some hours delivered the fiercest attack on the invasion bases. A big crowd of spectators in England watched a continuous miles-long illumination from which the reflection in the sea stretched to Kent. Boulogne, Calais, and Dunkirk were severely plastered, but there was no port or inlet along the coast that did not receive a visit during the night. An' Air Ministry communique states: The R.A.F. continued its attacks on enemy invasion bases in Channel ports yesterdav and last night. . •

During the day aircraft from the Bomber Command attacked the port of Flushing and its defences, and concentrations cf barges and lightdraught vessels at Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ostend, and near Terneuzen in Holland. Aircraft of the Coastal Command operated successfully against enemy ships at sea A convoy of 12 merchant vessels was bombed near Boulogne. Patrolling aircraft attacked a supply ship of large tonnage south of Borkum, and an incendiary bomb was observed to strike the vessel. When smaller ships were attacked near the Dutch island of Ameland a direct hit on one was followed by an explosion. . Fires and Explosions During the night, from shortly after dusk until nearly dawn, the ports of Ostend, Dunkirk, Boulogne, and Calais were heavily bombed by aircraft of the Bomber Command. Many bombs were seen to burst with good effect on ships, barges, and docks, and the attacks were punctuated by fires and explosions. From these operations all our aircraft returned safely. Methodically, hour after hour, the bombers continued the work of destruction at Boulogne. The great fire at the quayside tended to dwarf many others ip the harbour. Big explosions were observed at intervals, and barges were flaming throughout the night. There were also numerous barg« fires at Dunkirk after repeated big explosions. A blazing warehouse illuminated Ostend Harbour, but vast columns of smoke from another fir« north-westwards of the main basin hindered the bomb aimers. The R.A.F. dive-bombed Calaii Harbour and set fire to the whole target areaft Direct hits were secret on four large ships, and resulted ;r dense clouds of white vapour. Other, salvos extinguished searchlights-.