R.A.F. OFFENSIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1940, Page 5

R.A.F. OFFENSIVE

AIR MINISTRY REPORT SEVERAL TARGETS BATTERED IN BERLIN. NUMBER OF FACTORIES BOMBED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, October 13. An Air Ministry communique, issued early this afternoon, describes how last night strong forces of R.A.F. bombers continued the offensive against military objectives in Germany and enemyoccupied territory. It states: “In Berlin several targets, including an electric power station, gas works and an important goods yard were hit. Elsewhere industrial objectives, including aluminium works at Hering, an electric power station at Waldeck, Krupps’ works at Essen, a blast furnace at Torgau, metal works at Bitterfeld and Fokker aircraft works at Amsterdam were bombed. Oil plants at Cologne and Hanover, goods yards at Hamm and Cologne and the Dortmund-Ems aqueduct and several enemy aerodromes were also attacked. “Other forces of R.A.F. bombers paid their nightly visit to the Channel ports, and to the gun emplacements at Cape Gris Nez. “Aircraft of the Coastal Command yesterday attacked a convoy off the Norwegian coast, when an enemy supply ship was damaged and others were attacked with machine-gun fire. “Last night a force of Coastal Command aircraft successfully attacked a power station at Lorient, in enemyoccupied France. “From these operations all our aircraft returned safely.” RESULTS AT CHERBOURG SHIPPING MUCH REDUCED. SEAPLANE BASE SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, October 13. The following joint Admiralty and Air Ministry communique was issued at 4.15 p.m.: “Air reconnaissance has been carried out over Cherbourg, which, as previously announced, was heavily bombarded with (both heavy and light forces of the Royal Navy, with the co-operation of the R.A.F., on Thursday night. Although it is not possible to give the details of all the information obtained by the reconnaissance it can be stated that there was effected a considerable reduction of the shipping at Cherbourg and that much damage has been done. In the Petite Rode torpedo boats appear to have been damaged. The Bassin Charles now only contains a few small vessels. Dry docks and repair slips in the Bassin Napoleon were damaged. A vessel, moored alongside the Gare Maritime, was still burning fiercely at the time of the reconnaissance and a fire was still burning in the Entrepot, on the east side of the inner harbour. The Colonial Infantry barracks, near the outer harbour, appear to have been severely damaged. The main seaplane base at Chantereyne was hit and seriously damaged.”

EARLY HALT

IN ENEMY ATTACKS MATERIAL DAMAGE IN LONDON & ELSEWHERE. CASUALTIES NOT HEAVY. (British Official Wireless.) ' (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, October 13. Most of the enemy’s attacks on Britain last night took place before midnight and’ activity ceased in the early hours of the morning. The attacks, states a communique, were directed mainly against the London area and certain Midland districts, but bombs were also dropped in two places in the south-west and at points in the eastern and southern counties. In London, a number, of houses and other buildings were destroyed or damaged. An underground railway station was struck by a bomb and some damage was caused, but the casualties fortunately were much less than was at first feared. Reports indicate that throughout the London area casualties were not heavy, although some persons were killed and others injured. In a Midland town considerable damage was done to houses and commercial and other premises and a number of fires were caused. Particularly fine work was done by the fire services of this area and all fires were extinguished or under control by an early hour of the morning. A number of casualties, some fatal, were caused in this district. Elsewhere, although damage was done in some localities, reports indicate that this was not heavy and the casualties were small.

of the A.R.P. are still digging in the debris for possible casualties. A bomb which fell in a London County Council estate demolished six houses and damaged others. The occupants were all safe in shelters. A searchlight beam caused a bomber over the south-east coast to twist, turn and dive until it struck a balloon barrage cable, before crashing into the sea.