KEY OIL PLANTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 11

KEY OIL PLANTS

Bombers’ Targets In Germany WEATHER DEFIED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 22. Though weather conditions were unfavourable, ’ further attacks on enemy oil refineries were carried out last night, states an Air Ministry communique. Chief targets were the important Brabag refineries at Magdeburg and the Duerag installations at Hanover. At Caen and Abbeville, aircraft bombed aerodromes, causing explosions on the runways and lauding grounds and setting hangars on fire. Searchlight batteries were extinguished by gunfire. Attacks were also made on aerodromes at Quakenbruck, near Hanover, and the island of Texel. Railway centres were bombed in the Ruhr and the Rhineland. Bombs were dropped on a tunnel between Nienburg and Verden, north-west of Han* over, as a supply train entered. One of the British aircraft has not returned.

Icy coldness and snow were encountered by the crews of some of the aircraft which bombed key centres of the German oil industry during the night. At only a. few thousand feet severe icing conditions were met with, and one pilot had to descend to 2000 feet. „ , Snow Inside Cockpit.

Fifteen miles cast of Magdeburg one of the raiders ran into a heavy storm. Snow penetrated into the cockpit and formed a layer about two inches deep over the side panels. The pilot's flying suit was also coated with snow. . At Hanover much the same conditions were encountered, yet, as at the other targets, the R.A.I?. aircraft persisted in their attack. One pilot dropped a stick of heavy bombs and canisters of incendiary bombs from east to west alross a refinery, but the clouds closed in again and he could not see what happened after that. ~ . As well as the important oil refineries, the R.A.F. bombed a seaplane base on the island of Texel and a number of enemy-occupied aerodromes. One R.A.F. aircraft, appearing unexpectedly over Dekooy, in north Holland, surprised the ground staff. The pilot first dropped a number of heavy bombs which struck and set lire to a large hangar. This was followed by a salvo of lighter bombs, which sent the ground personnel dashing for shelter. At midday a second aircraft raided Dekooy, and though it was greeted with heavy fire the pilot unloaded Ins bombs and returned without damage to his machine. At Bonnes, in Brittany, a hangar was hit and left with smoke and showers of sparks coming from it. The Steene aerodrome, at Ostend, was also struck by high-explosive bombs.

award of d.f.c.

Christchurch Pilot Officer

LONDON, August 22,

•Pilot. Officer O. F. Gray, of Christchurch. has been awarded the D.l .U. The citation states: “He has flown continuously on offensive patrols. He participated in many engagements against the enemy throughout the Dunkirk operations and subsequently throughout, intensive air operations over Kent. Also, in protecting shipping in the English Channel, he shot down four Messerschmitts and is believed to have, destroyed a further four. He also assisted in destroying a Messerschmitt and a Dornier. His example of courage and determination in .-1011011 Ims contributed materially to maintaining the high morale of his squadron.”

BELGIANS IN BRITISH DEFENCE LINES

(Received August 23. 8.10 p.m.)

LONDON, August 23.

A special unit of Belgian officers and soldiers which went to England after the battle of Flanders has been assigned to a sector of the British defence Their uniforms arc similar to the British battledress with the word Belgium on the right ffieove,,