ATTACK RENEWED

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 121, 18 November 1940, Page 7

ATTACK RENEWED

POWERFUL FORCE OF

BOMBERS

HELPED BY CLOUDS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received November 18, 11.10 a.m.)

*- RUGBY, November 17

An Air Ministry communique states that squadrons of the Bomber Command last night renewed their attack against Hamburg. Many tons of bombs were dropped in the course of prolonged and extensive operations against many objectives, which included the central railway yards and important oil refineries, the Altona electricity works, and industrial targets in the Billwarder and Moorfleth districts. One force of aircraft concentrated on the great Blohm and Voss shipyards.

The attack, which lasted for several hours, was aimed at Hamburg's great and various industries, which range from shipbuilding to the manufacture of synthetic but presumably edible fats.

At intervals throughout the night a powerful force of bombers flew over the city and suburbs. The degree of success varied with the changing weather of the night, but many of the pilots were fortunate to find their targets when bombing conditions were perfect.

The squadrons which attacked the Blohm and Voss shipbuilding yards, which are the best known of many such yards lining the banks of the Elbe, reached' Hamburg just before midnight after flying through much cloud. As they came over the target the pilots suddenly found themselves in bright moonlight. The .visibility steadily increased and the clouds were left behind. High-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped and bursts were seen in many parts of the area, while explosions which followed were accompanied by great billowing red flames. Close to the river bank there was another fire, and a warehouse was seen ,to be well alight. • The Blohm and Voss yards and also a neighbouring aircraft factory where direct hits were scored were the scenes of large fires. Another force of heavy bombers found gaps in cloud immediately over the great riverside railway goods yards in the Billwarder, district and dropped many high-explosive bombs and over a thousand incendiary bombs. The gaps in the clouds closed as the attacks ended and made it impossible to observe the full result, but enough was seen to make certain that considerable damage was done.