Hammered In Repeated Raids

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 172, 22 July 1940, Page 7

Hammered In Repeated Raids

R.A.R HITS HARD Fires Raging In Hamburg Seen Forty Miles Away TANKS "BLOWN TO BLAZES" (United Press Association.—Copyright.— Ree. 1 p.m.) LONDON, July 21. Hammered and torn in scores of raids since Britain and Germany began waf in earnest, Hamburg was hit so hard by R.A.F. bombers last night that the fires set raging were visible 40 miles away. Oil refineries again were the main target. In addition there was a big attack on naval dockyards in north-west Germany, and factories and railway sidings over an extensive area. The R.AiF. also bombed aerodromes at Eschwege, Jever, Lehe, Nordhorn, Rijsen and Eindhoven. The Air Ministry announced that during the R.A.F. raids last night Blenheim bombers set fire to German oil tanks at Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam. Mountainous clouds of yellow smoke topped flames 300 ft high. One pilot said that tanks "were blown to blazes." Explosions were terrific and fires were still raging four hours afterwards. The R.A.F. last night bombed a dockyard at Wilhelmshaven and also a dockyard and oil refineries at Hamburg and Bremen, and shipping at Emden. Five British bombers were lost and two reconnaissance craft are missing after operations yesterday. Two bombs were seen to burst on Wesermunde docks, two on slipways at Zwischenahn seaplane base and others set fire to docks at Bremen. One flight bombed two supply ships at sea, and it is believed they severely damaged one. Other units again attacked aircraft factories at Wenzend'orf, near Hamburg, and Wismar, damaging buildings and tearing up runways adjoining the aerodromes. Several visits were made to Eschwege and explosions occurred inside one of the hangars, which blazed fiercely. A salvo caused a big explosion in the oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen. On Friday night British bombers attacked enemy aerodromes and seaplane bases along the coasts of north-west Germany and northern Holland. They bombed aircraft factories at Wismar, on the Baltic Coast, at Wenzendorf, near Hamburg, and at Bremen. During the night, aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked the naval base at Emden and the port of Harbingen, in Holland. Three British aircraft are missing. Heavy damage was inflicted on enemy aircraft factories and also on aircraft supply depots, oil refineries and armament factories.