R.A.F. ATTACK ON OSNABRUCK

Southland Times, Issue 24869, 8 October 1942, Page 5

R.A.F. ATTACK ON OSNABRUCK

RAILWAY CENTRE IN RUHR (Rec. 11.10 p.m.)~LONDON, October 7. For the fourth time in October s six nights Royal Air Force bombers last night were over Germany. The mam target was toe industrial and railway town of Osnabruck. Six planes are missing. The attack was heavy and concentrated. Osnabruck is the key to the Ruhr’s railway system and is small in area. Its 90,000 inhabitants are concentrated in four square miles. FACTORY ATTACKED Mosquitoes Over Holland (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 6. The Air Ministry News Service reports that Mosquitoes of the Bomber Command made a low level attack at dusk on Tuesday on a factory and power station near Hengelo, about liw

miles inland from toe Dutch coast. They flew so low across Holland that toe crews could clearly see men and women in toe villages and on the roads. They were not challenged by aircraft or anti-aircraft fire, but one machine was forced to turn back after a collision with a flock of birds. Its windows were smashed and the members of toe crew were badly cut by glass. The pilot, who momentarily lost control, returned home while toe others went on and bombed the factory and power station. Debris was flung up by the explosions and flames and smoke were seen to rise from the objectives. An Air Ministry communique states: “Single aircraft of the Bomber Command attacked targets in Western Germany and Holland in daylight today. Fighters on offensive patrol off the French coast attacked a mine-sweeper which was set on fire and ran aground. No aircraft is missing from these operations.” PLANE STRIKES HOUSE Crew Bales Out And Lands LONDON, October 6. Eight persons were killed, and a number was injured when a British plane crashed last night into toe middle of Somersham, a village in Huntingdonshire, wrecking six cottages and damaging others. Two persons are missing. When toe plane got into difficulties toe crew baled out and landed, safely. The crash caused a tremendous fire visible for miles. Firemen, Home Guards, soldiers and airmen joined , in the work of rescuing and recovering the bodies from toe debris. The plane z cut off toe roof of one house, but toe occupants, who were downstairs, escaped. It then went straight through another house and crashed into a cottage on toe opposite side of toe street.