MUNICH BOMBED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21208, 3 September 1940, Page 6

MUNICH BOMBED

FIRST ATTACKS OF WAR RAIDS ON 700=MILE FRONT DAMAGE ON CONTINENT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 3, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2 While Royal Air Force lighters are daily rebuffing German raiders in the English skies Royal Air Force bombers are nightly assailing the enemy’s military and industrial bases over an ever-increasing range on the Continent. Last night the left flank of a wideflung aerial offensive rested on Nordenham and Emden, while the right flank was over the plains of Lombardy An Air Ministry bulletin declares: Royal Air Force bombers methodically bombed selected targets on this 700-mile front, in which Munich was raided for the first time since the outbreak, when a force of heavy bombers attacked aero-engine works of the Bayerische Motorenwerke Company. One of the new objectives in Germany was the Boesch ignition plugs factory at Stuttgart, which was heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns. Planes arriving over the target after the first attack saw fires started by incendiary bombs. Several explosions were observed before the end of the raid. A haze prevented accurate observation of the results of a concentrated attack against oil storage tanks at Ludwigshaven, but several fires were clearly observed in the Emden dock area. After an attack on industrial sheds at Marnheim, twenty miles from Mannheim, the pilots saw a bluish flame, suggesting that large electric installation had short-circuited. Raiders subjected railway sidings at Munich to heavy high-explosive bombing and also hit the railway junction. Fires broke out as successive planes scored further direct hits. The testing track adjoining the Bayerische motor works were heavily hit. Other ,salvoes struck important buildings at the rear of the track Raiders Cross Alps " Our bombers crossed the Alps in weather not wholly favourable and located the Fiat works at Turin, where the first raider dropped bombs so effectively that a large explosion was caused. The reverberation shook the bomber at a height of several thousand, feet, after which fires were visible for half an hour after the aircraft had begun its homeward journey. We also attacked railway sidings at the Fiat aircraft factory at Linotto, in Turin. Many bombs were dropped on a railway bridge across the Po River, five miles northward of Alessandria. Other planes caused large explosions at the Marelli magneto works at Milan. Twenty or thirty heavy explosions on the French shore late in the afternoon were ascribed to a surprise Royal Air Force attack on German gun positions at Calais and Boulogne. A pilot describing the attacks on Nordenham oil storage tanks, said it was pitch dark when he and others arrived in Germany, but the Weser was an unfailing guide. He claimed direct hits on oil tanks on the river bank, setting fire to the oil, which led following planes to the target. There were night raiders over eight towns in various parts, in addition to London. Claims By Germany A Berlin communique states: Our bomber-fighter formations on September 2 successfully attacked aerodromes in south-east England, destroyed hangars and billets, and set fire to many aerodrome buildings. Our fighters brought down 86 planes. Twenty-three of ours are missing.