THRILLING RAIDS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21246, 17 October 1940, Page 8

THRILLING RAIDS

ATTACKS ON CONTINENT NAVAL BASES DAMAGED WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION (Omctal Wireless) (Received Oct. 17, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 16 Last night’s air attacks on Germany were directed as usual against a wide variety of objectives, and an Air Ministry communique states: The main strength of the Royal Air Force bomber offensive was concentrated on the naval bases at Kiel c.nd Hamburg, where large numbers of heavy-calibre bombs were dropped on shipping and wharves. Other forces of bombers attacked oil plants at Gelsenkirchen, Madgebtirg and Salzerbergen, while two depots in the neighbourhood of Kiel were also hit. Goods yards at Schwerte, Krefeld, Hamm and Soest were attacked and railway junctions at Nordhausen and Halle were damaged. A number of industrial targets, munitions factories, aircraft factories and power stations were raided by other aircraft, which, owing to the bad weather, did not reach their primary objectives. The offensive against Channel ports and the gun emplacements at C?p Griz Nez was continued. All our aircraft returned safely/ Pilot’s Dramatic Story An attack on an oil refinery* at Bohlen began in weather which one pilot described as filthy but which improved so quickly on the journey that he has never known the visibility so clear in any previous raid. ‘‘Over the Ruhr, for instance,” he ; said, “we could see factory chimneys. ! railway bridges and viaducts, and could even pick out streets in the towns over which we passed. We had a good look at Leipzig, and then flew south toward the oil refinery at Bohlen. A flare which we dropped hampered rather than helped us because of the glare of it on the slight haze on the ground. “In any case the moon was bright enough to show us all we wanted to see. There was a railway running roughly alongside our objective and we ran practically dead over the line, dropping bombs in one stick from south to north over the target. As we turned round we sawbombs burst right on the target. There was no doubt about it. “For 30 seconds after they landed there were some pretty hefty explosions about 100 or 200 yards apart. About a minute and a-half later there was a colossal upheaval. "First I saw a huge shower of sparks, then suddenly a great white column of smoke or steam shot up. It rose practically dead straight and reached about 6000 feet. It amazed everybody in the aircraft.” King With Firemen The King today heard how the London Fire Brigade dealt with many fires caused by the Nazi air raids on London when he visited the quarters of the brigade. His Majesty spent nearly half-an-hour in the operations room, where he saw a huge map of London, marked with indicators showing where fires had occurred and had been dealt with by the London fire services. Gave Life For Comrades A large bomb wrecked several houses, from which air raid workers are still extricating those who were trapped. This afternoon two firemen were buried while extricating a man. Mr Charles Goodyear was killed by a bomb which destroyed part of his industrial premises in London. He , gave his life for his comrades.

The firm’s fire brigades were dealing with several incendiary bombs when Mr Goodyear, hearing a high explosive falling, ran about blowing a whistle to ensure that everyone was under cover. The bomb buried him under the wreckage of the building. GERMAN LOSSES DESTRUCTION OF CONVOY STRUCK BY TORPEDOES (Unit*! Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Oct. 17. 3.15 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 16 The Admiralty announced that a German convoy of three supply ships, the largest of which was 7000 tons, and also two escort vessels have been destroyed. Another German vessel of 7000 tons was struck by three torpedoes. THE BURMA ROAD TO BE REOPENED TOMORROW PREPARATIONS BY CHINESE (LaltPri Press Asn.—elec. T**l Copyright) (Received Oct. 17, 3.15 p.m.) LASHIO (Burma), Oct. 16 Chinese technicians are preparing approximately 2000 American lorries for reopening the Burma Road on Friday. There will be a simple ceremony, in which Chinese and British will participate.