OFFICIAL REPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1941, Page 5

OFFICIAL REPORTS

ENEMY SHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED GREAT CONFUSION CAUSEDAT HELIGOLAND. ATTACK ON ST. NAZAIRE. (British Ofl'icial Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY. May 14. It was learned in London that Heligoland was raided in daylight yesterday by a R.A.F. squadron. Successful attacks were made with bombs and machine-gun fire, from a few hundred feet, causing great confusion. Other daylight activities of the Bomber Command included attacks on shipping off the Dutch and French coasts and on the enemy base at St. Nazaire. Several ships were sunk or damaged. The weather last night was unsuitable for large-scale operations but fighters attacked an aerodrome at Ostend. An Air Ministry communique, describing the attack on Heligoland, said: "Bomb's were dropped on jetties and buildings, causing a number of fires. Machine-gun attacks also wore made, from a very low level, on barracks and gun positions were raked. The whole operation was completed before the ground defences could offer any effective opposition. One of our aircraft is reported missing." Concerning the attack on St. Nazaire a communique reported that dockside

buildings were damaged and an enemy supply ship of about 12.000 tons was hit amidships and set on fire. Another supply ship, of about 2,000 tons, encountered off Ushant. was hit and left in a sinking condition. Two of our aircraft are missing from the attack on St. Nazaire.