EXTENSIVE RAIDS ON NAZI AERODROMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 103, 2 May 1940, Page 7

EXTENSIVE RAIDS ON NAZI AERODROMES.

NORWAY, DENMARK. Seven British Machines Fail To Return. THREE ENEMY SHOT DOWN. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 1. An Air Ministry communique says that large concentrations of German 'planes were reported yesterday at bases in Norway and Denmark. Strong forces of R.A.F. bombers launched extensive attacks last night on the aerodromes at Stavanger and Fornebu (Norway) and Aalborg (Denmark). Attacks were pressed home in the face of strong opposition from anti-aircraft guns and fighter 'planes. Preliminary reports indicate that heavy damage was caused to the aerodromes and aircraft on them were dispersed. Casualties inflicted on German lighters are at least three known to be shot down. Seven of our 'planes have not returned. The R.A.F. again raided Stavanger this morning. They did not encounter German fighters. The damage caused in the previous raid was visible. Further hits were made on the landing-ground. The German High Command communique claims that eight British machines were brought down at Stavanger. It admits slight damage at Fornebu. and states that one British I 'plane was shot down.

Night and Day Raids. The raids by the R.A.F. Boml>er Command on Stavanger, adds a British Official Wireless message, began on Tuesday afternoon and continued into the early hours of this morning. Later a new force of R.A.F. bombers launched a daylight attack on the already damaged air base. While in the earlier attacks the British raiders had met strong opposition from German lighters, durtng the latest raid they were not encountered. The damage inflicted on the air base in the recent attacks was plainly visible to the latest raiders when, in perfect weather, with visibility of 50 miles, the aerodrome wis attacked witli large numbers of high explosive bombs, and bursts of smoke and flame were recorded in u series of hits on the landing ground. All the British aircraft engaged in this daylight raid returned safely to their bases. The night attacks on Fornebu, near Oslo, and Aalborg, in occupied Denmark, resulted in these aerodromes being badly damaged. One of the strongest forces vet engaged in n single operation took part in these three raids, from which seven machines failed to return. When the advance guard of the British raiding force reached Stavanger late on Tuesday afternoon large numbers of enemy aircraft on the ground were attacked with high explosive and incendiary bombs, which burst within the target area.

Series of Running Fights. Meanwhile, enemy fighters had taken off and in a scries of running fights one Messersehmitt 109 was shot down by the rear gunner of a Blenheim, who, after firing"* short burst, saw hi* victim turn to port, fall off in a spin and crash head-on in the sea. Following soon after the first raid came another ami still stronger force of bomber*. Approaching in a shallow dive the British bombers launched their attack from different directions, batter--1112 the ground defences and registering hits on all part* of the aerodrome. Salvoes of high-explosive bombs were seen to straddle the principal runways and explode in a line from the centre to the north-west boundary. Other heavy bombs burst parallel to the runway and alongside the landing ground close to enemy aircraft. The tighter opposition was intense, and, on leaving, two British aircraft were pursued and vigorously encaged by four >ie*serschmitt 109 and 110 fighters. A Messerschmitt 109, in closing in on the rearmost bomber, was seen To burst into flames and crash into the sea.

A minute later the Briti.sh bomber came under the concentrated lire of several attackers and wa = forced down into the water. Two other British bombers were also engaged by two Mefserschmitt 1(19 fighters. As the British formation dived from 2000 ft almost to sea level the tail gunners returned the fire and after four short burst* one of the enemy aircraft burst into flames and crashed into the sea, its companion then breaking off the engagement. Bombardment In Darkness. The third phase of the attack on Stavanger came after dark, when another force of bombers subjected the aerodrome to a series of raids that continued into the early hours of the mornin" Stron-' opposition was encountered from the ground defences, but employvarving tactics of approach, the aircraft " succeeded in reaching their objective and inflicting still further damage on the air base. During the attacks on the Aalborg and Fornebu aerodromes during the i ni<rht, high explosive and incendiary bomb's were dropped. A fire, visible some 30 miles away, was started by the first attack on Fornebu. Later aircraft arriving just before midnight were guided "to their target as the fire burned fiercely. On the edge of the aerodrome and on promontories east and south of it, antiaircraft guns attempted to screen the target with a barrage, but could not hold off the attackers, who ran the gauntlet of the powerful defences and dropped bombs on the hangars and runways. One large hangar was hit and set on fire and new fires were started, which were still blazing at the end of the raid.