ATTACK ON SYLT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1940, Page 6

ATTACK ON SYLT

AIR MINISTER’S REPORT much damage to enemy BASE. GERMAN FIGHTERS DRIVEN OFF. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON. Marell 20. Reports from Tender state that numerous observation planes were seen flying over Sylt at 3 p.m. Machine-guns barked, but there was no heavy gunfire. Sir Kingsley Wood (Air Minister), in the House of Commons, said the Royal Air Force, in the Sylt raid last night, registered direct hits on hangars, which were set on fire. Oil storage tanks were also set on fire. Many hits were made on a jetty, light railway and other parts of the base. Reconnaissance flights today had confirmed the success of the operation. AU the reconnaissance, planes had returned safely. The Sylt raiders were over double the number of the German planes in lhe Scapa Flow raid. The Royal Air Force met intense anti-aircraft fire, which did not prevent them reaching their targets and dropping a largo number of bombs. German fighters sheered off when they encountered our fire.

“NO DAMAGE DONE”

ACCORDING TO GERMANS.

(Received This Day. 12.55 p.m.) BERLIN, March 20.

A comunmique states: -British aeroplanes attacked Sylt at about 8 p.m. yesterday. The attacks continued until 2.40 a.m. One house was hit. No other damage was done, thanks to the German defences. Most of the bombs fell into the sea. German anti-aircraft guns shot down one British plane. British planes flew across Danish and Dutch territory.”