DARING ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1941, Page 5

DARING ATTACKS

ON NAZI BATTLECRUISERS GNEISENAU HIT NEAR FUNNEL. BOMB BURSTS IN FOREPART OF SCHARNHORST. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright i LONDON. May 8. The weather in the north-west corner of France gave the Royal Air Force the opportunity to make sure of doing effective damage to the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in its raids on Wednesday night, states the Air Ministry news service. The docks and harbour at Brest lay exposed in the moonlight and our crews could plainly see the Gneisenau in the dry dock and the Scharnhorst moored up against a jetty near the torpedo-boat base. The attack was made with no less deliberation than precision. Bombs had to be dropped not only in the right place, bj.it from the right height and the battle-cruisers make a very small target when seen at the heigh I from which a heavy armour-piercing bomb will fall with enough force to penetrate the specially-protected decks of the battle-cruisers.

Some pilots used the alternative method of diving rapidly on to the target so that the speed of the aircraft added to the momentum of the bomb. One such dive was made from over 10.000 feet and a bomb released on the way. the pilot continuing to dive to about 2000 feet before he pulled out. All the members of his crew are confident the Gneisenau had been hit. Another crew claimed direct hits on the vessels. One very heavy armourpiercing bomb burst immediately forward of the funnel of the Gneisenau. An equally heavy bomb was seen to burst in the forepart of the Scharnhorst and the large, brilliant explosion which followed it lit up the whole ship. There were also many near misses beside both ships which may well have done further substantial damage. TALL CHIMNEYS TOSSED. Describing Wednesday night's attack by Coastal Command aircraft on two large oil refineries and an oil storage plant at the mouth of the River Loire, the Air Ministry reports that the first bombs found their target and as the following aircraft came in observers saw great fires suddenly appear. One by one of the tall chimneys of the’ refineries were toppled over. The captain of one aircraft said it appeared as if a chimney had been wrenched from its base and tossed into the air like a caber. Very soon a wide area was all alight. The countryside. which shortly before had stood out distinctly in full moonlight, became completely obscured by rolling billows of smoke, which also travelled several miles out to sea off St Nazaire. Another force of Coastal Command Blenheim bombers raided the harbour and shipping at Bergen, Norway. In a cloudless sky with visibility extremely good the crews were able to make perfect runs over the target, and carry out precision bombing. The weather was less favourable for British "raids on Germany, but much damage was done to warehouses >and industrial plant at Bremen. The night raids cost two planes. DECISIVE RESULTS IN SPITE OF STRONG OPPOSITION AIR MINISTRY REPORT. WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION IN GERMAN PORTS. <British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, May 9. An Air Ministry communique describes last night’s massive R.A.F. attacks on German naval and industrial centres and elsewhere, and also yesterday's widespread daylight operations by Bomber, Fighter and Coastal Command aircraft. It states:— "Hamburg and Bremen last night bore the brunt of the heaviest attack yet made by the R.A.F. on Germany. The weather was good, and our bombers pressed home their attacks with decisive results, in spite of strong opposition. High explosives caused widespread destruction, and many great fires were seen raging in the shipyards and industrial quarters of both cities. "Other aircraft of the Bomber Command carried out subsidiary attacks during the night on Berlin. Emden and other targets in north-west Germany, and on German coastal shipping. "In daylight yesterday shipping was attacked off the Norwegian coast. A German escort vessel was left on lire and down by the stern. "Ten aircraft of the Bomber Command are missing from the night operations and one from the day operations. "Aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked the submarine base at St. Nazaire last night. None of these aircraft are missing.’’ BERLIN COMMENT ON NEW BRITISH BOMBERS. MONSTROUS AND DEADLY. LONDON. May 8. The Berlin radio, describing the clash between the bombers athcl British night-fighters, said that the latter are extremely fast. It also described British bombers that have been attacking German mine-sweepers, and said. “Those now bombers are monstrous. They are magnificent and deadly machines, and one must get in first to save one's own skin."