HANOVER BOMBED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1941, Page 7

HANOVER BOMBED

Raging Fires Caused

VERY HEAVY ATTACK ON INDUSTRIAL AREA

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, February 11

A heavy, concentrated, and very successful attack on Hanover and other targets in north-west Germany and occupied territories is described in an Air Ministry communique, which says:—

"A very heavy attack was made last night on the industrial area of Hanover by Bomber Command aircraft. Of the force employed in this operation, more than 90 per cent, reached their objectives.

"The attack, which lasted six hours, was carried out in weather which was poor at fii-st but steadily improved as the night advanced.

"In the opening stages fires were started north, south, and west of the target area. These showed the later arrivals where to drop their heavycalibre high-explosive bombs. By the time the last of our aircraft had left, fires too numerous to be counted were raging throughout the bombed area. "Another smaller force attacked the oil installations and the docks at Rotterdam. Large fires and explosions were caused. "Several other targets in north-west Germany and two aerodromes in Holland were also visited. "In addition, aircraft of the same command successfully attacked Boulogne harbour, which had been previously bombed in daylight. Coastal Command aircraft bombed Cherbourg and Ostend, where large fires broke out.

"From all these operations four of our aircrafj are missing."