FIRES IN EMDEN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 7

FIRES IN EMDEN

“PILOT’S THRILLING STORY ATTACK IN THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE DONE BY BOMBS (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 9 “ Fires have been started which are quite as big as anything I saw in London.” This was the description of the result of bombs dropped by the Royal Air Force on Emden dockyard made by a rear-gunner who has been spending his leave in London. The attack on Emden was made on Sunday night at the same time as other British aircraft were bombing Boulogne. Some raiders on the occupied French harbour, however, experienced difficult weather conditions on their way to the target. Leaving England in fine conditions, the aircraft encountered thunder storms after half an hour’s journey. As the freezing level was only 6000 feet, it was impossible to rise above it, and they were unable to get below as it went down as far as ground level. Describing the voyage, the pilot of one aircraft said: “ Our machine was being thrown about the sky. It was absolutely impossible to keep a steady speed or height. Once or twice we were jerked up at least 600 feet by an electrical current. “ When we got over the target, the port engine was hit and there was a burst of flame as oil started burning. Then the flames disappeared, but we were running on an engine and ahalf for the rest of the lime. “ On the way back we found that our wireless was out of action ov/ing to the storm. It was largely thanks to our navigator that ive q t home. He gave me courses which in ought us in dead over the aerodrome. Jus-t ai we were turning in to land, ;he poi engine failed completely.” The German radio, describing the Royal Air .Force raid on Hamburg, says between 60 and 70 bombs fell, destroying 30 dVelling-houses. No military objectives were hit. The British also bombed residential districts in Kiel and Lueneberg.

“The British Air Force is too weak and cowardly to meet the Germans in open battle,” it said, “and restricts itself to defence and night attacks against Germany.”