FIERCE FIRES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 January 1941, Page 5

FIERCE FIRES

STARTED IN NAZI AIR BASE IN SICILY ROYAL AIR FORCE ONSLAUGHT ON THURSDAY, BUILDINGS AND AIRCRAFT LEFT BLAZING. Catania, the air base in Sicily which the Germans are using in their efforts to help Italy in the Mediterranean, was subjected on Thursday to a further assault by British bombers, the 8.8. C. states. A R.A.F. Middle East communique states that the raid caused a number of extremely fierce fires, which could be seen fifty miles away. These fires helped the following aircraft to do still further damage to buildings, including the north-west hangar, which was seen blazing. Damage was done also to administrative buildings and a number of aircraft wore seen on fire All of the British aircraft came back safely. HIGHLY CONCENTRATED BOMBING OF WELHELMSHAVEN. CARRIED OUT IN SPITE OF SEVERE ICING. (British Official Wireless.) . (Received This Day. 938 a.m.) RUGBY, January 17. Severe icing conditions did not prevent the R.A.F, once more making Wilhelmshaven naval base their main objective last night, when a highly concentrated attack was carried out Though it was on a smaller scale than on the previous night, highly successful results were obtained. The aircraft first on the scene caused many fires and later arrivals reported that these had reached very large proportions, especially at the railway station and in the area in which oil storage tanks arc situate'!. AIR MINISTRY REPORT (Received This Day. 10 am.) RUGBY. January 17 An Air Ministry communique states: In addition to the Wilhelmshaven raid, tile RA F List night attacked docks at Emden. Boulogne and Calais, a railway junction at Ostend and aerodromes in occupied France. “From all of these operations five of our aircraft are missing. Electrical storms were exfierionced during the Wilhelmshaven raid." GERMAN REPORT (Received Tins Day. 9 am > BERLIN. January 17 British R A F planes drop,x*d bombs in i ili-Germany 'Phe damage was slight. A school was set on fire. Tli' ii- v, ere nu ca '.isltis and no mill-: t.-iry targets were hit. 1