BERLIN RAIDED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 258, 28 July 1941, Page 8

BERLIN RAIDED

R.A.F Drops Heavy Bombs

CENTRE OF CITY Attack On Hanover And Hamburg (British Official Wireless.)

(Received July 27, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 26. An Air Ministry communique states that on Friday night the

Royal Air Force offensive was mainly concentrated on Hanover and Hamburg, where . industries, docks and communications were heavily bombed. A small force of four-engined bombers attacked objectives in Berlin. Aircraft of the Fighter Command carried out further attacks on enemy aerodromes in northern France during the night. Nine of our bombers are missing. '

The Air Ministry news service states that the four-engined bombers: which raided Berlin carried a full load, including some of the heaviest and most powerful bombs in Britain’s armoury. There was no doubt about where they had fallen, as huge flashes were seen right in the centre of the' city. The bombers circled round to find the exact position by light flares.. “At first,” said one captain, the anti-aircraft gunners seemed to be trying to fox us and gave no sign of their existence. But as soon us our bombs began to fall all the guns fired. It was no longer any use for them to pretend that Berlin was not just below us. We had flown through storms and above clouds on the why out, but there was no cloud over Germany. We passed through two vast belts of searchlights before we reached Berlin. They looked brighter than ever on so dark a night and so did the flashes of our bombs in the centre of the city.” Naval Bases Also. The attack on enemy ports and naval bases was continued when aircraft of the Bomber Command went in force to north-west Germany. The weather was good and heavy loads of bombs were dropped on naval objectives at Kiel and Emden. Large fires were started and great damage done at both places. Smaller forces attacked objectives at Wilhelmshaven and docks at Rotterdam. Five of our aircraft are missing from these operations. A further Air Ministry communique says that in the course of reconnaissance operations by aircraft of the Bomber Command this morning bombs were dropped oil the port of Emden. Our fighters carried out offensive patrols on the French coast. An enemy patrol vessel off Boulogne was attacked with cannon and machine-gun fire. Olio enemy fighter was shot down. None of our aircraft are missing from these operations. . Detailed reports show that 21 enemy lighters were shot down by Bomber Command aircraft during the daylight attack on Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, With the 12 announced shot down by fighters this brings the enemy losses to 33 fighters. Luftwaffe Uneasiness. One of the signs by which the world’ knows that the Luftwaffe command is conscious of receiving severe punishment is the publication of claims to have destroyed vast numbers of British aircraft.

This symptom of extreme uneasiness first became apparent during the Battle for Britain, when the Nazis used to publish figures which were almost exactly the reverse of the facts, in greater or less degree, the same tendency has beem manifest in the Intervening months, and it has become more noticeable as.the weight of the R.A.F. attack has increased. Thus, on Wednesday, the Germans claimed that 54 R.A.F. machines were brought down over the Channel, a number which was increased by 10 on Thursday night. Actually the R.A.F. lost 15 aircraft In Wednesday’s engagements—lo and five bombers. Thursday’s magnificently successful result has brought similar claims, which, being published before the R.A.F. announcement revealing the actual losses, will doubtless later be increased. According to the Nazis, 3R.A.F. aircraft were brought down over the Belgian coast. In fact, the British losses were 22 —15 bombers and seven fighters. Thirty Nazi machines were destroyed, apart from the very considerable damage which' was inflicted by bombing.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Lull By Both Sides

LONDON, July 27.

There was very little enemy activity over this country last night. A few bombs fell on the coast near Suffolk, but did'little damage and there were no casualties. ■

For the first time for several weeks, it is believed there was no Royal Air Force activity over enemy territory last night. ■