COLOGNE BLASTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1941, Page 5

COLOGNE BLASTED

IN R.A.F. NIGHT ATTACK FURTHER DAYLIGHT OPERATIONS OVER NORTHERN FRANCE. TWO NAZI BOMBERS SHOT DOWN OVER BRITAIN. LONDON, July 11. In the offensive last night, for which the weather was not so favourable, the chief targets were the heavy industries concentrated in and around Cologne, which had its twelfth raid in a month. Raids were made on other objectives in the Rhineland and on the docks of Ostend, Cologne and Boulogne, Two British planes are missing.

At least six enemy fighters were destroyed by the R.A.F. this afternoon when a force of bombers and fighters swept over Northern France. Details of the sweep have not yet been announced.

This raid followed this’ morning’s, in which heavy R.A.F. bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked an enemy shipyard at Letrait, west of Rouen. One enemy fighter was destroyed. All the British, planes returned. An Air Ministry communique states that there is nothing to report over Britain today. Two German bombers were destroyed during the night, when bombs were dropped at a number of points in east and north-east England. A new type of Spitfire is now in use. It has a speed exceeding 400 miles per hour. One night flying squadron of the R.A.F. now has 51 enemy raiders to its credit. STILL SUPERIOR FEATURES OF NEW BRITISH PLANES. LONDON. July 11. The success of the latest sweeps has satisfied experts that British planes are still superior to the German. The latest Spitfire is equipped with two cannon and four machine-guns. The latest Messerschmitt still has only one cannon and two machine-guns. A notable victim of the Channel sweeps was the German ace, Captain Balthasar, who was credited with 40 air victories. His death in action is admitted by the German radio.