SMASHING ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1940, Page 6

SMASHING ATTACKS

BRITISH RAIDS ON ENEMY AIR BASES HEROIC & SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS BY BOMBERS. IN FACE OF POWERFUL DEFENCES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This I)ay, 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY. May 1. In a series of running fights during the R.A.F. raids on Stavanger, a Messerschmitt 109 was shot down by the rear gunner of a Blenheim, who, after' firing a short burst, saw the victim turn to port, fall off in a spin and crash head-on into the sea. Following soon after the firstraid came another and still stronger force of bombers. Approaching in a shallow dive, the British bombers launched their attack from different directions,

battering the ground defences and registering hits on all parts of the aerodrome. Salvoes of high-explosive bombs were seen to straddle the principal runways and explode in a line from the centre to the north-west boundary. Other, heavy bombs burst parallel with the runway and alongside the landing ground close to enemy aircraft. Fighter opposition was intense, and on leaving two British aircraft were pursued and vigorously engaged by four Messerschmitt 109 and 110 fighters> The Messerschmitt 109, closing in on the rearmost bomber, was seen to burst into flames and crash into the sea. A minute later,.the British bomber came under the concentrated fire of several attackers and was forced down into the water. Two other British bombers were also engaged by two Messerschmitt 109 fighters. As the British formation dived from 2000 feet almost to sea level, the tail gunners returned the fire and, after four short, bursts, one enemy aircraft burst into flames and crashed into the sea, its companion then breaking off the engagement. The third phase of the attack on Stavanger came after dark, when another force of bombers subjected the aerodrome to a series of raids that continued into the early hours of the morning. Strong opposition was encountered from the ground defences, but, employing varying tactics of approach, the aircraft succeeded in

reaching their objective and inflicting still further damage on the airbase. During the a'ttacks on Aalborg and Forrfebu aerodromes, during the night, high-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped. A fire visible some 30 miles away was started by the first attack on Fornebu. Later aircraft, arriving just before midnight, were guided to their target as the first burnt fiercely on the edge of the aerodrome and on promontories east and south of it, Anti-aircraft guns attempted to screen the target with a barrage, but could not hold off the attackers, who ran the gauntlet of the powerful defences and dropped bombs on hangars and runways. One large hangar was hit and set on fire, and new fires were started which were still blazing at the end of the raid.