“HIDEOUS MESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1940, Page 5

“HIDEOUS MESS”

MADE OF ENEMY COASTAL BASE USED BY SEA RAIDERS. SMASHING BRITISH ATACK. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 23. - German aerodromes, factories, goods yards and ports were among the targets that were bombed by the Royal Air Force yesterday and during the night. Reporting on the activities, an Air Ministry communique states: “Yesterday aircraft of the Bomber Command made daylight attacks on the enemy aerodromes at Schipol and Leeuwarden. Among other targets they also bombed a factory in Solingen (in the Ruhr). “Last night a determined attack was made on the aerodrome of Merignac, near Bordeaux, a base from which the enemy launches attacks on our Atlantic shipping. One of our aircraft is missing:" The raiders on Merignac had the assistance of excellent weather conditions, and a half-moon shone from a cloudless sky while the Bomber Command machines accomplished their 1000 miles’ return journey. After the first attack, however, the moon ceased to be of much assistance because the fires which had been started provided adequate illumination for the following aircraft, the pilot of one being able to pick up the glow of the fires while still 100 miles away. During the persistent and successful raid, which reached the highest intensity at about 4 a.m., much damage was clone to the hangars and also aircraft and a barracks, one pilot saying, “We must have left the place in a hideous mess.” ' Among the targets in Germany which were bombed was the inland port of Duisburg-Ruhrort, which had already suffered heavily two nights ago. and the Krupps’ synthetic oil works at Wanne Eickel, where an attack in force took place.

GERMAN CLAIMS ATTACK ON BIRMINGHAM. LONDON. November 23. In Berlin officials declared that strong Gorman air squadrons again attacked Birmingham during the night, including dive-bombing attacks on important aircraft and other factories. The Berlin news agency, referring to tlie attack on Birmingham, says that whole streets and a block of factory buildings were destroyed and gutted. The attacks were concentrated on armament, works, which hitherto had not been hit. Fires indicated that not only houses were burning but. also huge stocks of raw materials like raw wool or cotton which were stored in Birmingham.

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