R.A.F. ATTACKS KIEL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23625, 30 April 1942, Page 5

R.A.F. ATTACKS KIEL

Base at Trondheim Bombed

DAYLIGHT SWEEPS OVER FRANCE

(Received April 29, 11 p.m.) (N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, April 29. Germany and German-occupied territory last night again felt the weight of the relentless offensive of the Royal Air Force. The targets were the German naval base of Kiel and Trondheim in Norway, where the Germans also have a naval base. Trondheim was also attacked on Monday night Full details of the raids are awaited. Since the Royal Air Force started its latest and greatest offensive last Thursday night with the first raid on Rostock, the enemy has had no respite. „ For the last 120 hours the blitz over Germany and Europe has shown no signs of slackening. Yesterday three sweeps were made over Northern France by British bombers and fighters. Hurricane bombers, escorted by Spitfires, went over to attack targets at St. Omer, where the aerodrome could scarcely have recovered from the pasting they gave it on Monday. This time the enemy put up plenty

of anti-aircraft fire and fighters provided plenty of opposition. However, the Royal Air Force was successful in starting fires at the railway yards and the station buildings. Three enemy fighters were also shot down. In another sweep, British Spitfires penetrated several miles inland and met little opposition. From the day’s operations six British fighters are missing. Raid on Cologne

The main target for the bombers on Monday night was Cologne, the important industrial centre in the Rhineland. Here British bombers easily picked up their targets from a clear, moonlit sky, and when they left large fires were burning. The raid on Cologne was made in exceptionally clear weather. Not only was there no trace of cloud in the sky, but a strong east wind blew away the smoke and haze which often lies over this district. A brilliant moon lit up the rivers, streets, and factories as the bombers went over. The enemy had many night fighters up, and it was the kind of night on which German pilots must have been able to see the bombers from a mile or two away. One British bomber pilot said that the whole city was laid out before him as on a map. “We ran over the railway bridge and then dropped our bombs. Good fires were burning, and some of the bigger fires seemed to be joining up with each other as we left," he added.

A successful attack against a German supply ship by a Hudson of the Coastal Command off the Danish coast was made at dusk on Monday night, when the pilot spotted a medium-sized German supply ship, escorted'by a flak ship. The Hudson dived and as it pulled up to clear the funnel the pilot released a stick of bombs, two of which thudded on the deck. A few seconds later they exploded. The flash was followed by a column of sparks and a cloud of black smoke. When the smoke cleared the pilot was able to see the ship clearly, and the funnel had disappeared. , Damage at Rostock

The aeronautical correspondent of “The Times” says that it is estimated that the damage at the Heinkel works in Rostock will mean a loss in production of between 25 and 30 aeroplanes a week, representing an annual output of between 1500 and 2000. The Air Ministry states that a reconnaissance has established that during the attacks on Rostock the main assembly sheds of the Heinkel aircraft factory, as well as many subsidiary buildings, were damaged. Fires in Rostock were still burning at noon on Monday. , .. „ , Since the' Royal Air Force attacks, looters have been active in Rostock, states the Berlin correspondent of a Stockholm newspaper. Special trams, cars, and lorries have transported practically the entire population from the blazing town to the country. Shipping between Warnemuende and Rostock has been suspended as a result of damage to the docks at Rostock. The Royal Air Force is reported to. have dropped leaflets on the port of Stralsund, 67 miles north-west of Stettin, warning the population to expect heavy raids.