HAVOC IN TRAIL OF R.A.F. BOMBERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 10

HAVOC IN TRAIL OF R.A.F. BOMBERS.

NAZI SHIP HIT.

Hard Blows Over Land

And Sea.

NAVAL BASES ATTACKED. British Official Wireless. (Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 5. The Air Ministry news service states that a large German supply ship, one of a group of four seen some miles off the Dutch coast, was hit by a high explosive bomb during a series of daylight raids by R.A.F. bombers soon after noon yesterday.

The raiders, on approaching, found the German ships stationary and facing in different directions, while their escort, two destroyers, was steaming towards tlicni. The aircrafts' dive to the attack took the enemy so completely by surprise that not a single anti-air-craft gun was fired.

An Air Ministry communique states: "Bombers yestei;day made daylight attacks on oil refineries at Hanover and lininierich, where largo fires were started. Hits were registered on objectives at Hainm and Soest. The Amsterdam and Brussels airports were also attacked, bombs falling on both aerodromes and on hangars, where lires were started. One of our aircraft is missing. "Coastal Command aircraft, in the course of patrols and reconnaissances yesterday and to-day, attacked and damaged enemy patrol vessels off the coast of Holland. Two aircraft failed to return. "Bombers last night carricd out attacks on naval bases at Wilhelmshaven, Emden, Kiel, on the Dortmund-Ems canal, ou lines of communication at Hamburg, Osnabruck, Hamni, Schwcrte and Cologne, on aerodromes at Varel, Harburg, Aachen, and again on the Brussels airport.

"Aircraft factories at Wenzendorf and Bremen were also attacked. Hits were observed on all these objectives. One of our aircraft is missing." Patrol Ship Swamped. A small German anti-aircraft gun ship off the Dutch coast was completely overturned by a bomb from a Coastal Command Hudson bomber early this morning. The bomb fell within 2ft of the side of the vessel, which disappeared in the great splash. The Hudson's crew saw the ship floating upside down when the surface of the sea cleared.

"Other patrol vessels of the same formation were attacked. A number of bombs were such 'near misses' that several ships were left in a sinking condition. Another Hudson attacked and damaged a German supply ship off Stavanger."