WIDESPREAD RAIDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1940, Page 6

WIDESPREAD RAIDS

DAY AND NIGHT OPERATIONS BY BRITISH BOMBERS LARGE GERMAN SUPPLY SHIP HIT. MUCH DAMAGE IN GERMANY AND ELSEWHERE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, July 5. The Air Ministry news service states that a large German supply ship, one of a group of four seen some miles off the Dutch coast, was hit by a high explosive bomb during a series of daylight raids by R.A.F. bombers soon after noon yesterday. The raiders, on approaching found the German ships stationary and facing different directions, while their escort of two destroyers was steaming towards them. The aircrafts' dive to the attack took the enemy so completely by surprise that not a single anti-aircraft gun was fired. An Air Ministry communique states that bombers yesterday made daylight attacks on oil refineries at Hanover and Emmerich, where large fires were started. Hits were registered on objectives and Hamm Soest. The Amsterdam and Brussels airports were also atttacked, bombs falling on both aerodromes and on hangers, where fires started. One of our aircraft is missing. Coastal Command aircraft, in the course of patrols and reconnaissances yesterday and today attacked and damaged enemy patrol vessels off the coast of Holland. Two aircraft failed to return. Bombers last night carried out attacks on naval bases at Wilhelmshaven, Emden and. Kiel, on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, on lines of communication at Hamburg, Osriabruck, Hamm. Schwerte and Cologne, on aerodromes at Varel, Harburg, Aachen and again on the Brussels airport. Aircraft factories at Wenzendorf and Bremen were also attacked. Hits were observed on all these objectives. One of our aircraft is missing. SHIP OVERTURNED AFTER ATTACK BY HUDSON. OTHER CRAFT DISABLED. (Received This Day. 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, July 5. A small German anti-aircraft gun ship off the Dutch coast was completely overturned by a bomb from a Coastal Command Hudson early, this morning. The bomb fell within two feet of the side of the vessel, which disappeared in a great splash. The Hudson’s crew saw tile ship Boating upside down I when the surface of the sea cleared, i Other patrol vessels of the same formation were attacked. A number of bombs were such "near misses that several of the ships were left in a sinking condition. Another Hudson attacked and damaged a German supply ship off Stavanger. SEVERAL INJURED HIGH EXPLOSIVE BOMBS FALL ON ENGLISH TOWN. SOLDIERS AMONG VICTIMS. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. Throe high explosive bombs fell in a town in south-west England, damaging a house. A gardener and a soldier were injured and taken to hospital and seven other soldiers were slightly injured. A raider dropped a screaming bomb on a south-east town. Enemy aircraft visited north-west England. Fighters went up. GERMAN REPORT (Received This Day. 11.30 a.m.) BERLIN. July 5. The High Command stated that the Air Force, on July 4 and last night bombed England's harbour works, air bases and munition factories, and also attacked a convoy off the south-west coast, sank four transport of 5000 tons each and damaged a warship and nine additional transports by bomb hits. Referring to British raids on Belgium. Holland and Germany, the report says:—"Militarily important targets were not attacked. Apartmenthouses. farms, etc., were damaged and set on fire. Several civilians were killed. Eight enemy planes were destroyed. Two of ours are missing.