SUDDEN ATTACK BY R.A.F.

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 64, 9 December 1940, Page 8

SUDDEN ATTACK BY R.A.F.

Luftwaffe Bases WIDE CAMPAIGN AT NIGHT Many Objectives t British Oilicial Wireless.) (Received December 8. 7 p.m.) RUGBY. December 7. Aerodromes in France and the Low Countries—the enemy's bases for night raids on the British Isles —were successfully attacked by a strong force of Royal Air borce bombers from nightfall till several hours after midnight. The Channel ports of Dunkirk, Boulogne and Calais were also attacked. It is officially announced that two of our aircraft are missing.

Behind this announcement of last Bight’s raids lies a story of a whole night of the successful seeking out and attacking of nests from which the enemy are sending their raids to attack Britain. For this purpose a powerful force of bombers was di.) cited from the more usual task of raiding Germany’s vital centres. Some aerodromes, states the Air Ministry’s new service, were attacked many times in sharp sudden raids. At Chateau d’Un, in the Blain of Orleans. the aerodrome was raided several times with marked success. Bombs were'seen to burst across hangars and runways, and there were many explosions and a number of fires. Buildings In The Air.

At Melun many fires sprang up ami when heavy bombs exploded a mass of debris was thrown high in the air, and a pilot could clearly see fragments of buildings Hying in every direction. Villa Coublay was twice successfully attacked. At Chartres there were direct, hits on hangars in the southwest corner of the aerodrome. A sfiectacuiar explosion followed and an equally impressive tire. At the Vendeville aerodrome, near Lille, a burst of flames followed an explosion of heavy bombs, showing that a store of petrol had been hit.

Many other aerodromes in occupied France were attacked. At Le Touquet a pilot, came down to 500 feet so that his machine-gunners could spray the aerodrome with accurate fire. In the Low Countries a number of aerodromes were hit. At Le Culot aml Brussels bombs straddled a Hare path, and at Harskamp bombs which fell on a hangar caused explosions ami a fire. Aerodromes at Ypenburg, Rotterdam, Trond and Eindhoven wore also successfully raided. DAYLIGHT BOMBING Electro-Chemical Factory Among Targets I British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. December 0. Aircraft, of the Coastal Command, it is officially stated, carried out a raid on an electro-chemical factory at Eindhoven yesterday. The Rotterdam airport and the Haamstede aerodrome were also attacked. Other Coastal Command aircraft bombed the submarine base at Lori.ent. Owing to bad weather last, nigne bomber operations were cancelled. Two aircraft are missing from routine patrols. Enemy Report. BERLIN. December (>. A German communique says that several. British planes flew over western Germany last night, but dropped no bombs. NAZI AIR COMMUNIQUE (Received December 8, 7 p.m.) BERLIN, December 7. Informed quarters state: The Luftwaffe last night attacked- London. Southampton, Brighton and Bristol. Large and small lives were observed in the harbours and in several other districts. Two German planes belatedly reported that they had made forced landings in France and that the crews were safe, reducing the German losses yesterdaj from seven to five. The Berlin wireless reports that Bournemouth was bombed in addition to the places mentioned. It adds that enemy torpedo-carrying planes Hew over the Reich, two of which were shot down. PERFORMANCE CLAIM OF NEW MESSERSCHMITT i Received December 8. 7.50 p.m. i LONDON. December 7. The Bremen wireless says that the new Messerschmitt TlO has a much greater range limn the Messerschmitt 109, and also that it is equipped with several cannon and machine-guns, carries two members of a crew, while its construction enables it Io carry very heavy bombs under the fuselage.