R.A.F. BOMBERS BLAST DOCKS AT HAMBURG.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 9

R.A.F. BOMBERS BLAST DOCKS AT HAMBURG.

FOUR-HOUR RAID.

Two-Mile Fire Rages At

Bremen.

United Press Association.—Copyright

LONDON", Sept. 13

1 The Air Ministry states that for nearly four hours on Wednesday night relays of bombers maintained an almost continuous assault upon harbour installations, shipbuilding yards and docks at Hamburg.

The first aeroplane reached the target shortly after 0 p.m. and its bombs started a fire iu the docks, which 6«rved as a beacon for following raiders. As the attack developed other great fifes broke out in the dock area and also to the west and north-west of Hamburg.

A series of direct hits was scored on jetties and docks to the east and west of the j;reat Blohm and Voes shipbuilding yards. By 10.45 p.m. visibility, which had been good at the start of the raid, had deteriorated and a bomber coming in front the sea to launch its attack found the target covered by lowlying cloud, above which anti-aircraft shells could be seen bursting. Then the cloud cleared over the northern half of Hamburg, enabling the pilot to make for the docks and release his entire load in a single run across the target.

At 1 a.m. 011 Thursday the crew of the last aircraft detailed for the attack could see a huge fire blazing while etill 40 miles away from Hamburg.

Over the docks they dropped a stiek of heavy bombs across a line of shipbuilding yards, but, although tlie explosion of their bombs was seen, it was impossible for them to assess the damage caused because of the dazzling glow from the yrcnt tire raging beneath them.

Royal Air Force bombers also attacked Bremen for nearly two hours. "Bremen's on fire, and what a fire!" remarked a pilot when he returned from the raid. An observer in another bomber said fires were blazing all over the place and made a solid triangle of flame, one side of which must have been two miles long.

Fires were raging In all parts of Oetend when the raid on that port ended after nearly four hours. Two huge explosions sent up a column of black smoke which pierced the cloud layer 10,000 feet over tlie harbour.