DAYLIGHT RAIDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 180, 31 July 1940, Page 7

DAYLIGHT RAIDS

ON GERMAN TARGETS.

Ships, Barges And Factories In The Ruhr. R.A.F. AND FRENCH 'PLANES. British Official Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 30. An Air Ministry communique states that yesterday British bombers made daylight raids over a widespread area in Germany and the Low Countries. A large supply ship was damaged near Flushing, and barges and other vessels were hit at Eniden and Hamburg and off the island of Tersclielling. An oil refinery in the Ruhr was bombed, and attacks were made on several aerodromes in Germany and Holland. One British bomber was lost.

During last night, although the conditions and visitbility were poor, a large number of British bombers penetrated into enemy territory. Twenty-four aircraft were, however, unable to locate the targets assigned to them, and returned without dropping their bombs. The remainder attacked targets in north-west Germany, the Ruhr and the Low Countries, including oil refineries, shipping, docks, aerodromes, and road and rail communications. No losses were suffered in any of these operations.

The second communique so far issued from the headquarters of General de Gaulle, French leader in London, states: "Our airmen took part in the operations carried out last night by the R.A.F. over north-west Germany. In spite of violent opposition from ground defences the objectives "were attacked with success, and important results were observed. All our airmen returned safely."

Eye-witnesses at Malmo saw British 'planes over Copenhagen between 1 and 2 a.m.. states a cable message from Stockl Four raids w.ere carried out despite powerful German anti-aircraft fire, and the explosions were so heavy that houses were .shaken in Swedish territory.

HEINKELS CRASH.

Attacked By Fighters Off

British Coast.

VAIN EFFORTS TO ESCAPE.

(Received 2 p.mO

RUGBY, July 30.

One petrol tank, blazing on the surface of the water, was all that remained of a Heinkel 111 bomber shot down off the east coast of Scotland to-day. Attacked by Spitfires over the sea the German pilot tried hard to take cover behind thin wisps of cloud while his rear gunner fought back. Then the Heinkel dived westwards, trying to reach the land.

At 5000 ft above the water the crew dropped their bombs in a last effort to keep the aircraft under control, but, as one of the Spitfire pilots said, ''it smashed framing into the sea."

A fight by Hurricanes against a Messerschmitt 110 twin-enginfed fighter off the East- Anglian coast in the afternoon was very different. The. Messerselimitt. instead of diving to destruction, was attacked as it flew almost touching the wave to()S. The Hurrieane pilots reported that it crashed at "from to 10 feet."'