R.A.F. HARASSES NAZIS AT OSLO DROME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 102, 1 May 1940, Page 7

R.A.F. HARASSES NAZIS AT OSLO DROME.

SUSTAINED ATTACK. Many High Explosive Bombs Dropped. * SERIES OF AIR ENCOUNTERS. British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 30. Oslo's principal airport, Fornebu, which the Nazis are using as a base for troop transport from Germany, was attacked for the fourth time last night by the R.A.F. Bomber Command. The attack took the form of a series of raids starting shortly after midnight and continuing for over an hour. Attacking singly and in succession, British aircraft dropped a large number of high explosive bombs on the aerodrome across the landing ground. Parachute flares were dropped to assist observation, and bursts were seen in a line spreading from north-west to south-east. In spite of strong opposition from gun batteries and searchlights, which increased in intensity as the raid deveI ~>ed, all attacks were pressed home. At a cost of one aircraft, which, failed to return, considerable damage is believed to have been done to the airport and the aircraft dispersed round ,it. Durinj; the last 24 hours formations of B.A.I 1 . Coastal Command aircraft on patrol along the Norwegian coast report a series of encounters with enemy bombers. One small flight of Blenheims over Andalsnes gave chase to a Junkers 88, which took refuge in a cloud. Avoiding action of this kind was also resorted to by a. Heinkcl 111 aircraft, which the Blenheims intercepted and attacked from astern. The Blenheims next observed a Messerschmitt 110 climbing out of a cloud. Tile Nazi fighter had a rough encounter, and was last seen spiralling down in distress. Two other aircraft saw a Heinkel 111 flying dead across their tracks. They pursued it for ten minutes with sustained lire. This Heinkel also flew into a cloud and could not be found again. Another Junkers SS was attacked effectively from the quarter and rear. Its tail gun was put out of action. Great plumes of black smoke came from both engines, and the German was losing height rapidly as it made off. Entering a fiord farther south, the Coastal Command aircraft met another Junkers SS. which turned and escaped ill the clouds.