SUCCESSFUL RAIDS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21369, 13 March 1941, Page 9

SUCCESSFUL RAIDS

BRITISH AIRMEN ACTIVE MUCH DAMAGE AT COLOGNE VITAL CROSSING OF RHINE (Official Wireless) % RUGBY, March 11 An Air Ministry communique states: On Monday night one of our bombers destroyed an enemy aircraft over an aerodrome in enemy-occu-pied territory. The clear weather over Cologne enabled our raiders last night to continue their attacks on the industrial centre of the city and the railway communications at this vital crossing of the Rhine, says the Air Ministry. Moonlight and a clear sky left the town entirely exposed. The r&id lasted a little over an hour, beginning about 9.30. The network of anti-aircraft defences always on each side of the Rhine is distributed around the Hohenzolleren bridge, and hits on the railways at the end of the bridge were reported by one aircraft. Not long afterwards the pilot of another aircraft reported fires where their bombs had fallen. On both sides of the Rhine fires and explosions were seen among industrial buildings and a goods yard. After the recent attacks on Cologne it is natural that the city should be vigorously defended, and throughout the raid the British bombers had to contend with incessant anti-air-craft fire. In bright moonlight the balloon barrage was readily detected and the rear-gunners of one aircraft fired several bursts at a number of balloons.