BRITISH BOMBING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 December 1940, Page 5

BRITISH BOMBING

ATTACK ON NORWEGIAN PORT GASWORKS BLOWN UP : IN DENMARK. THE SOUTHAMPTON RAID. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.38 a.m.) RUGBY, December 2. An Air Ministry communique states: “On Sunday morning aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked a military camp at Christiansund (Norway). Bombs fell along the waterfront, damaging buildings, and others damaged warehouses on the quayside. “Another aircraft of the Coastal Command successfully attacked gasworks at Esjberg (Denmark) and an explosion followed the bombing. None of our aircraft were lost in these operations. “On Monday night our bombers attacked the shipbuilding yards at Wilhelmshaven. All our aircraft returned.” Another communique states: “There was only slight enemy activity over Britain today. A number of enemy fighters and fighter-bombers in the morning flew over the coast, but were turned back by our fighters whilst still over Kent. No bombs have so far been reported. Two enemy fighters were shot down by our fighters without loss to ourselves.” Southampton was again the main objective of last night’s enemy air raids. Announcing this the communique states that a number of fires were caused, but all were well under control by daybreak. It is reported that relays ofGerman planes attacked for hours. The first force of raiders arrived early in the evening and dropped parachute flares. Driven to a great height, by an intense air barrage, the raiders proceeded to shower down hundreds of incendiary bombs. While the local firemen were tackling the outbreaks, Nazi airmen dropped high explosives and caused wanton damage among business premises and private houses. A community underground shelter received a direct hit from a heavy bomb. A large number of people have been rendered homeless. The casualties from both raids last night are small.

LOST GERMAN ACE LONDON. December 1. The Bremen radio announced that Major Wieck, commander of the Richtofen squadron of the Luftwaffe, has not returned .from an attack against the enemy on November 28, when he achieved his fifty-sixth victory. GERMAN REPORT LONDON, December 2. The Berlin news agency stated that after nightfall the German squadrons were bombing Southampton harbour works, dry docks, industrial plants'and other essential war objectives. It said the railway connection between Southampton and London had been interrupted.