R.A.F. BOMBERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 192, 14 August 1940, Page 7

R.A.F. BOMBERS.

WIDESPREAD RAIDS. Much Damage Reported To Targets Attacked. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 13.

An Air Ministry communique reports that Medium Royal Air Force bombers in their daylight operations to-day, over an area extending from Jutland to the Bay of Biscay, included as objectives enemy-occupied aerodromes at Waalhaven, Hingene, Caen and Cherbourg, and the seaplane base at Brest. Twelve aircraft have not returned. Targets attacked by R.A.F. bombers last night included the Gotha air frame factory and other objectives in nortb,west Germany and enemy-occupied territory in France and Holland. Attacks were pressed home in spite of ice and cloud. Raids were also made on 17 aerodromes and seaplane bases at Borkum. From these operations four of our aircraft have not returned. The harbour at Helder, on the Dutch coast, was' bombed in co-operation with the Fleet Air Arm. A tremendous explosion on the quayside, which probably denoted the hitting of an ammunition dump, followed the bombing attack on Helder. A series of smaller explosions was also noted and when the Blenheim bomber was well out at sea on its return more explosions on the quay were seen. Many fires were also started in Helder harbour by other Blenheims. A stick of bombs fell across a dozen antiaircraft ships in the harbour. An aerodrome on the island of Texel was attacked and buildings set on fire. At Dekooy aerodrome a pilot dropped all his bombs on the airfield.