EXTENSIVE RAIDS BY R.A.F.

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23004, 26 April 1940, Page 8

EXTENSIVE RAIDS BY R.A.F.

Heavy Damage to Airports And Ships

FIVE GERMAN BASES BOMBED

(UNITED TRKSS ASSOCIATION —COrVIUOIIT.) (Received April 25, 9 pan.) LONDON, April 25. Continuing and extending its attacks on aerodromes available for use by the Germans In their invasion of Norway, the Royal Air Force on Tuesday night raided five Nazi bases, inflicting heavy damage, attacked enemy naval auxiliaries near the island of Sylt, sinking two, and damaged a supply ship near the head of Oslo fjord. The previous night, the Royal Air Force bombed Fornebu and Kjeller, airports near Oslo, and made its third raid on Aalborg. On Tuesday night, Bi'itish aeroplanes heavily and successfully attacked Westerland aerodrome, on the island of Sylt. Bombs were dropped on the hangars and runways. Several fires were started and a huge explosion occurred. A number of enemy patrol vessels were encountered north of Sylt. These opened heavy anti-aircraft fire on the British aircraft. They were immediately attacked and two were sunk. Attacks were also made against enemy air bases at Aalborg, Kristiansand, Oslo, and Stavanger, and an offensive reconnaissance was carried out over Trondheim fjord. Westerland aerodrome was bombed almost continuously for one hour and 40 minutes. Twenty enemy aeroplanes were heavily bombed at Stavanger, and it is believed that a number were destroyed and others badly damaged. The raiders at Kristiansand concentrated on the runways and aerodrome buildings. They evaded a barrage from the ground defenc.es and scored many hits. Aalborg was raided in the moonlight, and highlevel bombing scored many hits. Royal Air Force machines also attacked a large force of long-range bombers. Many aeroplanes were employed in these widespread operations on Tuesday night. Two have not returned.

High-explosive bombs played new havoc with the already crater-pitted aerodrome surface at Stavanger, and one raider making a dive bombing attack at low level released a heavy salvo which was seen to fall and burst near the side of the main runway. A strongly burning fire was reported by one of the returning raiders at Kristiansand, where the raiders also concentrated their attentions on the runways and aerodrome buildings. Attacking in quick succession from different heights, they successfully evaded the barrage put up by the ground defences and registered numerous hits. Bomb bursts were observed and confirmed on the edge of the runway between therunway and the hangars, and one salvo exploded within 50 yards of the main hangars. Fornebu, Oslo’s principal airport for both land and sea aeroplanes, lying to the west of the city, was also raided by part of the same attacking force, and heavy bombs were dropped on the aerodrome to increase the damage already done to the landing ground in the previous night’s raid. One aircraft detailed for the attack on Fornebu did not reach its objective, having previously sighted two enemy supply ships steaming north near the ■ , ead of Oslo fjord. Coming down to 2000 feet, the aircraft dropped two salvos of bombs in succession which burst close to the leading vessel. It then followed up its attack by descending to within 150 feet of the water and carrying out a close-range machine-gun attack on the decks and superstructure of the leading ship as it made for the shore. Barrage Over Aalborg The attack on Aalborg—the fourth successive raid by the Royal Air Force on Germany’s principal air base in Denmark—was made in perfect weather, under a cloudless sky and by a full moon. For the first time no enemy aircraft were seen on the aerodrome, but powerful ground defences were on the alert, and the British raiders were met by a barrage of fire over the target area and the persistent attention of a ring of blue and white searchlights ranged in a circle outside the aerodrome. High-level bombing attacks were made in the clear moonlight, and. numerous hits were observed on the aerodrome. . . The raid on Westerland, which is a convenient base for attacks on shipping along the coast of Norway and against Allied troops and lines of communication, was carried out by -a large force of long-range bombers. One hangar was hit several times and another is believed to have been badly damaged by bombs which fell between it and the runway. At the time of the attack, night operations were evidently being carried out by the enemy, for one pilot reported that lights were seen on the hangars and round the boundary of the aerodrome. These were extinguished as he neared the objective. The approach to Westerland was made from various directions, and there is little doubt that this method of ■ attack momentarily took the enemy by surprise, for the first bomber to reach the objective encountered only moderate fire. The opposition increased in intensity, however, as the attack developed, and throughout most of the action pompoms placed round the aerodrome maintained a steady barrage of fire. ' f While these raids were in progress, other aircraft of the Bomber Command were carrying but their customary security patrol over the bases of German minelaying aircraft. One of these, patrolling off the island of Sylt, was fired .on by two naval auxiliaries. Selecting its target and diving from 4000 feet to 1500 feet in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, the British aircraft bombed one of the ships. The anti-aircraft fire ceased abruptly, and. in the words of the pilot’s own report, “the-ship disappeared.” . t Another aircraft patrolling a nearby area, soon after midnight came under fire from two large motorboats. The aircraft at once made a low-level bombing attack, dropping six bombs in quick succession. Turn-

ing back to observe the results, the pilot could see only one boat on the water. This aircraft was also able to observe the attack on Westerland from a distance, and reported seeing a large explosion on the west side of the aerodrome. A Berlin message says that the Official German News Agency reports that British aeroplanes dropped 10 bombs on Sylt, and no damage was done. Anti-aircraft defences routed the raiders. It adds that bad weather over the North Sea caused German aeroplanes to fly low, exposing them to fire from British warships. One Heinkel was damaged. The agency also claims that three British machines were .shot down in the North J3ea attempting to raid Stavanger. A communique issued in Berlin states that British attacks on the Oslo aerodromes were unsuccessful. A British aeroplane was shot down over the Heligoland Bight. In spite of the intense opposition, all the attacks were pressed home, and a large number of heavy bombs were seen to burst on the aerodrome surface and runways. It is announced in London that German aeroplanes raided Scapa Flow, but were driven off. There was no damage, nor were there any casualties.