GERMAN DOCKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 282, 27 November 1940, Page 8

GERMAN DOCKS.

TARGET FOR R.A.F. Pilots Observe Fires And Explosions. British OflMul Wireless. (Reed. 1 p.in.) N'ov. Ari Air M inistry coniiiiiiiii«|ii« a states: "Lust, night our bombers attacked the dmv 111 base ami dockyards at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven. Other aircraft altackoil docks at Hamburg and Willcmsoord and the Drniok seaplane has*-, and several enemv aerodromes. One ot our aircraft is missing." "Intcn-c darkness and persistent cl«wd hani|>ered the work of mil' lien* v (lumbers when they i.ided Kiel and Wilhelmshaven hut nijs't.t. "At. Kiel," states the Air Ministry news service, "the principal objective* were shipyiinW, and at Wilhelmshaven, I lie niival works an<i dockyards. The raids l>egaii before 7 p.m. All the aircraft of the first force to arrive at Kiel spent ail average of half an hour cruising over the locks ami .outing docks before dropping bombs. Through a gap in the clouds the pilot of one aircraft saw and Im>iiilm'(l a group of dork side building* hy the water'* ed<;e, a short distance from tlio original target. "Th« pili>ts of other bombers over later were able to report six explosions followed by tires, and another pilot saw very large tire* to the west of Kiel Bay. He dropped hi* own bomb* into the tire and saw a fre*h glow light up the clouds. The gas work* at Kiel were also attacked. "Some pilots sought other targets. One descril>ed how he saw his bombs tiumt on the docks at Hamburg and watched a red glow caused by incendiary lmtnb*. Heligoland wa* also raided nnd three bursts were seen there. At VVillenmoord, near Den Helder, explosions were seen on the di>ck area."

SOON SHOT DOWN. Moot Of Small Number Of Nazi Day Raiders. LITTLE ACTIVITY REPORTED. Rrltiih Official tflrvleM*. (Reed. 2 p.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 2«. Mont of a small number of enemy aircraft which crossed the nouth and south-aa«t coast* of Britain to-day were promptly shot down. A* against two German bombers and two fighterbombers destroyed, the R.A.K. suffered 110 loss. A bomb was dropped, adds an official communi<|iie, in a coaot town of Sussex, doing some damage to buildings and causing a few slight casualties. At a coast town in Kent an enemy aircraft delivered a short hurst of machine-gun Hre, which caused no casualties and very little damage. An Air Ministry report says that shortly after dark the enemy dropped several bombs in west England, but did little damage, states a cable message. Casualties were few, but included some persons killed. Otherwise there was no enemy activity over Britain last night.

MERRY DOG-FIGHT. Two British Airmen Scatter Four Navel Planes. BATTLES OFF KENT COAST. British Official Wireless. (Kecd. 2 p.m.) RUGBY, Nor. 2rt. A < ■■ flight-lieutenant ami an English serguii nt-pilot, flying on their own. destroyed two enemy lighters on Tuesday, while uuntlirr wa* Wrought down by anti-aircraft lire. A Heinkel tilt floatplane was ■!*<> destroyed by H><lit«TK» off the Kent coast. The flight-lieutenant and sergeantpilot were ihi ;>ntrol near Hasting* when they gave chase to lour Messerschmitt*. wliioh split up into two pairs. The flight-lieutenant went after one pair, and an he went into attack the other two swung round on his tail. The sergeant pilot at once got on their tail*, so that for a few seconds all six were sandwiched. One of the flight-lieutenant's Messersch mitts disappeared, and the other dived to sea level, where be shot it down. The sergeant-pi lot chased one of the others the whole of the way across the. English Channel and Kent it crashing into the sea near the French COKrtt. A Messerschmitt brought down by anti-aircraft fire crashed off Folkestone. DUTCH AIR PILOTS. ADVENTUROUS VOYAGES. ♦Reed. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Not. ». A Rata via radio stated that a group of Dutch airmen have arrived from Britain to complete flying training. They were first torpedoed and compelled to take to the boats, but returned to Kngland and recommenced the journey. Home were in Holland when it was invaded, and managed to escape. THIRTIETH RAID. TREMENDOUS DAMAGE DONE. (Reed. 2 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 26. An Aden message says that the thirtieth raid on Assab by the Royal Air Force caused a huge Arc. The accumulated dammge is believed to be tremendous.