OIL TANKS ATTACKED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21207, 2 September 1940, Page 8

OIL TANKS ATTACKED

RAIDS ON THE CONTINENT GREAT FIRES STARTED FLEET AIR ARM ASSISTS (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 2, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 1 An Air Ministry communique states: Yesterday evening aircraft of the Coastal Command carried out a successful attack on oil tanks at Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam. Last night our bombers continued their attacks on selected military objectives in Germany and Holland. Among these were lighting installations, an aero-engine factory and aerodrome at Berlin, oil plants at Cologne and Magdeburg, goods yards at Hamm, Soest, Osnabruck and Hanover, shipping at Emden, various industrial targets and several aerodromes. Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm, operating with the Coastal Command, attacked oil storage tanks at Rotterdam last night. Two of our aircraft have not returned. Great fires were caused at Vlaardingen when Swordfish aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm co-operated with the Coastal Command Blenheims in a further attack on oil tanks.

The pilots had to fly through an intense barrage of anti-aircraft fire and many searchlights, one of which was bright purple. They found the targets easily, and sticks of bombs from the leading aircraft started fires'which lit up the scene for those who came later. When the last British aircraft was on its way home the fires were burning fiercely.