BOMB FOR BOMB

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21191, 14 August 1940, Page 8

BOMB FOR BOMB

RAIDS ON CONTINENT BRITISH FLIERS’ BLITZKREIG (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 14, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 13 Bomb for bomb, the British raiders are hitting back at Germany in day and night raids over wide areas of German-occupied Europe. As the fighters on the home stations exact a separate toll on Germany’s blitzkreig armada's strength, the British raiding squadrons are steadily increasing and covering wider areas under cover of the lengthening nights. They are conducting their own blitzkreig in their own way despite the addition of weather hazards to the manifold dangers from the ground defences. Bad Weather Experienced Severe weather conditions are still being experienced by Royal Air Force bombers during their night attacks on Germany. In Monday night’s raid the temperature was 20 degrees below zero and ice-forming conditions were experienced. Some aircraft heavily laden with bombs became coasted with ice, and when attacked by the ground defences were unable, because of the additional weight, to climb out of danger until they had reached the targets and unloaded their bombs. Widespread low cloud further hampered the bombing in many parts

of the operations area and the success of a series of attacks on large aircraft. At Diepholz, where bombs were seen to burst on the landing ground, the target was confirmed only by the lucky chance of another- gap in the clouds a few minutes later, which enabled following aircraft to see fires blazing in the target area. The damage to an air frame factory at Gotha was similarly confirmed by a late arrival over the objective. The crew reported that their bombs led to an increase in the intensity of the fire which was already burning.