WAVES OF ASSAULT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1940, Page 5

WAVES OF ASSAULT

BOMBERS STILL AT WORK AFTER SEVEN HOURS MUNITIONS DUMP BLOWN UP. PARTICULARS OF EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, March 20. Attacking in successive waves, the British Air Force last night bombed German bases on the island of Sylt in the Heligoland Bight and were still attacking at 3 a.m., after seven hours. The Air Ministry, together with Danish eye-witnesses on nearby islands, report extensive damage to air bases and other objectives. Other reports state that a munitions dump was blown up and that the Hindenburg Dam was bombed. The central objective on the island was Hornum, which is one of the land bases from which German aircraft operate against our naval ships and merchant shipping. This attack by the R.A.F. follows the German attack made on the Orkneys on Saturday. The raid was started at 8 p.m. The Air Ministry early this morning announced that the bombers attacked Sylt in relays almost continuously. A vast quantity of bombs was dropped, -extensively damaging the hangars, workshops, and slipways. By 3.30 a.m. all the aircraft then due back had landed safely. The Hornum base was at first identified by moonlight, and after that the fires started by the first bombs provided an unmistakable guide. The pilot of one machine reported that one bomb burst between two hangers and two bombs burst near the slipways. A communique issued by the Air Ministry at 4.15 a.m. states that the attack on Hornum, which started at 8 p.m.. was still progressing at 3 a.m. The first participating aircraft had already returned safely. The pilots reported accurate bombing of the objective. Some searchlights and antiaircraft gun opposition, was encountered. AN OBSERVER’S REPORT An innkeeper on the Danish island of Romo, who was an eyewitness of the Sylt raid, said: "At 8.15 p.m. two aeroplanes dived from the clouds flying low across the island northward. They dropped eight bombs and then disappeared. At 8.20 p.m. another plane from the west dropped two bombs. "Soon afterward I heard heavy firing from the direction of the Heligoland Bight and saw many bombs explode on the Hindenburg Dam. At 8.40 p.m.. after a terrific explosion, a brilliant flash lit up the whole island. Thereafter there was a series of explosions, indicating that a munitions depot had been hit. Later I saw a plane, headed eastward, apparently crippled, but it was not pursued. At 10 p.m. I heard four explosions in the middle of the island. Altogether I counted 82 bomb explosions.” ■ .