R.A.F. ATTACK ON HAMBURG

Southland Times, Issue 24231, 14 September 1940, Page 5

R.A.F. ATTACK ON HAMBURG

HEAVY ASSAULT ON DOCKS SHIPBUILDING YARDS SUFFER BOMBING OF HARBOUR INSTALLATIONS (British Official Wireless) (Rec. September 13, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 12. Details of the Royal Air Force attack on Hamburg show that for nearly four hours relays of aircraft of the Bomber Command kept up an almost continuous assault on harbour installations, shipbuilding yards, and dock basins. The first aircraft reached the scene shortly after 9 p.m. on Wednesday and started fires in the docks which served as beacons to the following raiders. Later, as the attack developed, other great fires were started in the dock area and to the west and north-west of the city. A series of direct hits was scored on jetties and docks to the east and west of the great Blohm and Voss shipbuilding

yards. At 1 a.m. on Thursday the crew of the last aircraft detailed for the attack could see a huge fire blazing while still 40 miles away from Hamburg. Over the docks they dropped a stick of heavy bombs across a line of shipbuilding yards, but though the explosion of their bombs was seen it was impossible for them to assess the damage caused because visibility had deteriorated and the bomber coming in from the sea to launch the attack found the target covered by low-lying cloud, above which antiaircraft shells could be seen bursting. Then the cloud cleared over the northern half of Hamburg, enabling the pilot to make for the docks and release his entire load in a single run across the target.

Perhaps the most widespread attack of the war so far on military objectives in Germany and German-occupied territory was carried out last night by the Royal Air Force. CONVOY ATTACKED Coastal Command aircraft yesterday attacked an enemy convoy off Dunkirk, sinking one enemy supply ship.

Another force of Coastal Command aircraft, operating with the Fleet Air Arm, attacked a convoy off Cape Gris Nez, hitting one enemy supply ship, which was left burning, and seriously damaging

another. In the course of this attack the British 'aircraft encountered a force of enemy fighters and bombers, three of which were destroyed and others damaged. Three British aircraft were lost.

Last night strong forces of bomber aircraft carried out attacks on railway stations, goods yards and an aerodrome at Berlin.

Docks and shipyards at Hamburg, Bremen and Wilhelmshaven, an oil plant at Monheim, an explosives factory at Frankfurt, goods yards at Hamm, Cologne, Coblenz, Mannheim and Ehrang, a railway junction at Namur

and enemy aerodromes in Germany and Holland were also attacked. Other forces of bombers attacked barge concentrations, docks and shipping at Ostend, Flushing, Calais and Boulogne. Three British aircraft did not return. BOMBING OF BERLIN It is officially stated that bombers again carried out a big raid on Berlin last night, straddling the Potsdam station with, heavy calibre bombs followed by incendiary bombs. They hit buildings and tracks at the Anhalter station near Potsdam station in a series of runs over the target. Repeated salvoes struck the goods yards at both stations. Bombs fell on the Tiergarten (Berlin’s Hyde Park) and the Templehof aerodrome. One plane was damaged, but all returned. The planes machinegunned motor torpedo-boats from low altitudes.

The Air Ministry News Service states that a Czech bomber squadron formed in England raided enemy territory for the first time when it participated in a successful attack on the railway goods yard at Brussels.

The Rome radio states that the Royal Air Force raid on Berlin on Tuesday night resulted in 1753 casualties. The impressive scale of recent Royal Air Force attacks on military objectives can best be appreciated from a summary of the number of raids on specific targets. Since the beginning of September until Wednesday morning—the period during which the brunt of the Nazi attack has fallen on London—the Royal Air Force has carried out 23 separate attacks on Germanoccupied aerodromes in France, 18 on German aerodromes, 10 on aerodromes in Holland and two on aerodromes in Belgium, during which many high explosive bombs have been dropped, hits being secured on hangars. LIST OF RAIDS Other achievements are: — Fifteen raids on forests concealing military objectives. Great tracts of the Black Forest have been set ablaze and equal success has been achieved in Thuringerwald, Ober Hartz and forests near Berlin.

Thirty-five attacks on the German rail system, including the large Potsdam station in Berlin, and considerable damage has been caused in marshalling yards, sidings and to tracks. Twenty-nine raids on German and German-occupied docks and shipyards, where big fires and explosions have been caused.

Twelve raids on barge concentrations. Five attacks on canal and river systems. Fourteen raids on munition works, among which was Krupps. Eight attacks on aircraft works, including the B.M.S. factory at Munich. Sixteen raids on oil refineries. Nine raids on fire stations—the West Charlottenburg station near Berlin was bombed for two successive nights, many direct hits and numerous flashes of explosions resulting. Seven attacks on gun emplacements on the French coast.

Eleven attacks on shipping. Three attacks on Italian objectives, including the aero engine works at Turin and many other varied military objectives, including gasworks, blast furnaces and light installations.