POWERFUL ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1941, Page 5

POWERFUL ATTACKS

MADE ON ENEMY BASES IN FRANCE DESTRUCTION OF NAZI PLANES. BAG OF ONE SQUADRON REACHES 101. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. April 17. Another air attack was made on the French coast yesterday afternoon. Explosions there shook buildings along the English coast. Two enemy fighter-bombers were destroyed over the Straits of Dover yesterday, one by a Spitfire squadron which has now destroyed 101 enemy planes. The squadron leader, who accounted for this machine, has now had 16 confirmed successes. The R.A.F. raid on Bremen last night lasted for five hours. The shipyard and industrial centres were heavily bombed and widespread fires were caused. AIR MINISTRY REPORT MAIN BLOW AT BREMEN. RAID ON HELIGOLAND. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.47 a.m.) RUGBY. April 17. Further details of yesterday’s and last night's R.A.F. raids on Germany are given in an Air Ministry communique, which states: “The weight of last night’s attack by aircraft of the Bomber Command fell on a number of North German towns, but mainly on Bremen. Though a haze made it difficult to observe the full effects of the bombings fires were seen spreading in many parts of Bremen. Wilhelmshaven. Cuxhaven and Wesermunde were among other objectives attacked. “Aircraft of the Coastal Command bombed docks at Brest during the night. “In the course of widespread operations, in daylight yesterday, a formation of Blenheim aircraft of the Bomber Command attacked the Island of Heligoland. Other Blenheims, escorted by fighters, attacked the aerodrome at Berck Sur Mor and did considerable damage. "From all these operations one aircraft of the Bomber Command and three of the Fighter Command are missing, but one fighter pilot is safe. An aircraft of the Coastal Command is missing from a patrol yesterday.”