AIR ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1940, Page 6

AIR ATTACKS

i ON MANY ENEMY BASES ACHIEVEMENTS OF BRITISH PLANES. FIVE MESSERSCHMITTS SHOT DOWN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) RUGBY. June 30. An Air Ministry communique states: “Yesterday afternoon, a formation of R.A.F. bombers carried out surprise attacks on the Abbeville Aerodrome. A hangar was hit and four enemy aircraft were set on fire and others damaged. All our aircraft returned safely. “Last night our bombers made attacks on a chemical factory at Hochst. which was left in flames, on the Dsrt-mun-Ems Canal, on marshalling yards at Soest, Hamm and Grcmburg, on military objectives in the region of Baden, on others near Cologne arid in the Bois da Chimay, in South Belgium, and on the aerodromes of Norderney, Borkum and Schipol, in Holland. Barge and Munster in north-west Germany and Merville in France. Damage was done to all of these objectives. Three of our aircraft are missing. “This morning, a formation of our bombers again attacked Merville Aerodrome and bombed enemy aircraft on the ground. Three of our aircraft failed to return. “A patrol of our fighters engaged a number of Messerschmitts over the French coast and shot down one. “This afternoon our bombers attacked railway sidings and goods yards at Cignacourt north of Abbeville. Fires were started among the rolling stock. On the return journey, our aircraft were attacked bj 7 a formation of Mes-i serschmitt 109’s. R.A.F. fighters intervened and shot down four of the enemy planes. All our aircraft returned.” ENEMY RAIDS GERMAN HIGH COMMAND REPORT. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) BERLIN, June 30. A High Command communique states: “Our Air Force on Saturday night bombed ports and munition works in England and Scotland. Explosions and fires were observed in many places, especially the harbours of Cardiff and Bristol, where several oil tank depots were set on fire. There were successful raids also on air bases at Lincoln, Nottingham and York. “British planes bombed non-military objectives in north and west Germany. The damage done was inconsiderable. One plane machine-gunned firemen employed in extinguishing a burning I house in a west German town. Four enemy planes were shot down. One of our planes is missing.” SOME ITALIAN CLAIMS (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) ROME, June 30. A communique states: “There has been considerable activity by our columns on the Cyrenaica front and some localities have been occupied. At-, tacks of enemy motorised units were repulsed. “In an air battle four enemy planes were shot down and some members of the crews were made prisoners. Two of our planes failed to return to their bases. “During an air raid on Tobruk airfield, which caused only insignificant damage, our pursuit planes shot down two enemy planes. “Another air raid on the Massawa airport caused no damage. One enemy plane was shot down.”