EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 96, 23 April 1940, Page 9

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

AIR FORCE RAIDS

AALBORG & STAVANGER

SALVOES OF BOMBS

DESTRUCTION OF NAZI

PLANES

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, April 22

The Air Ministry announces that the -Royal Air Force again successfully attacked Aalborg aerodrome, in North Denmark, last night. Extensive damage was done and several fires were started. One of the British aircraft is missing. - (British Official Wireless.) (Received April 23, noon.) v RUGBY, April 22. Fuller details are now available regarding the raids on Aalborg and Stavanger. The first raiders to attack at Aalborg arrived to find the boundary lights of the aerodrome on,' a flare path in position, and four enemy aircraft circling over the landing ground preparatory to landing. These quickly made off. This time the Aalborg ground defences were not caught unawares. Numerous searchlights, ranged in wide circles outside the aerodrome, flashed into action and intense antiaircraft fire opened as the British aircraft, striking in rapid succession, came in over the target.

Numerous hits were registered on the landing ground with • high explosive bombs. • Six fires kindled by incendiary bombs were left blazing in different parts of the aerodrome. One pilot approaching from a height of only 100 .feet found that most of the searchlights could not be depressed to so low a level, and, rising over the target, was able to place an accurate salvo of bombs on a road near the aerodrome control tower. The attack on Stavanger'' was carried out by a powerful force of longrang^e bombers. The crew of one British"''aircraft, after making their run over the target, returned and attacked a line of enemy aicraft with machinegun fire. They saw two of the aircraft burst into flames. » Machine-gun attacks were also made on gun batteries and searchlight posts. The raiders met with concentrated pompom and machine-gun fire from batteries outside the aerodrome. The barrage ceased abruptly as each aircraft passed clear of the landing ground. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was also encountered from a hill to the north of the aerodrome. ... ~ ■ This morning's communique stated that one British aircraft which raided Aalborg was missing. All the machines which were sent to Stavanger returned safely. "(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

(Received April 23, 11 a.m.)

LONDON, April 22

A powerful force of long-range bombers raided Stavanger aerodrome in the light of the full moon. Fifty enemy machines were seen around the edge of the bomb-pitted aerodrome. One of the raiders dropped a salvo of bombs from a low altitude on a. group, of fifteen machines and destroyed at least six, while others are believed to have been badly damaged. Another machine sowed a lane of high-explosive bombs across the aerodrome and started several fires with incendiary bombs. Gun batteries and searchlight posfcl outside the aer.odrome were machinegunned. _^__