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Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1941, Page 5

One of Heaviest on Berlin TERRIFIC EFFECT OF NEW BRITISH BOMBS TREMENDOUS FIRES AND HUGE EXPLOSIONS LONDON, August 3. The R.A.F., which made one of the heaviest raids of the war last night on Berlin, and submarines of the Royal Navy, which torpedoed an Italian cruiser and sank two enemy supply ships in the Mediterranean, celebrated the 100th week of the war with smashing blows on the enemy on land and sea. The raid on Berlin was the second within nine days. Planes flew in over the city from all directions, dodging searchlight beams and the barrage of anti-aircraft gunfire. The effect of one of Britain’s new bombs was described by one pilot as terrific. Bombs were seen to fall on the meeting place of two sets of railway lines and a fierce fire heaved like a volcano. Three huge explosions were followed by a deep red glow over the city, which was still visible eighty miles away. The Air Ministry describes the raid as one of the heaviest attacks yet made on special objectives in Berlin. German officials admit the attack, which they described as only a nuisance raid, and claim that damage was confined to buildings of cultural interest.

Hamburg and Kiel were also heavily attacked. Great damage was done to docks, railways and industries at Hamburg and to shipbuilding yards and the naval base at Kiel. A smaller force of bombers attacked the docks at Cherbourg. From these extensive operations, which caused widespread destruction to three centres of Germany’s military strength, five of our aircraft are missing.

The American Eagle squadron claimed its first enemy bomber today, when it shot down a Dornier into the Channel. It has also destroyed five other enemy aircraft. Enemy activity over Britain during the past 24 hours was slight. A few bombs were dropped last night. This afternoon a German bomber swooped down out of the clouds on to a town on the south-east coast and dropped bombs, which damaged shops and houses and caused a few casualties.