BERLIN POUNDED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 92, 19 April 1941, Page 9

BERLIN POUNDED

Heaviest Raid Yet

MORE AND BIGGER BOMBS

LONDON, April 18.

Britain's new Stirling bombers were in action last night over Berlin in a raid which was described as the heaviest that E.A.F. bombers have yet made on the German capital. Mora. British planes carried more bombs to Berlin than ever before. Hundreds of high-explosive and incendiary bombs were used, and more bombs were dropped than in the previous raid on Berlin. Among the bombs used were a number of the very , powerful type with five times the blasting power of those hitherto employed. They fell on targets in the centre of the city, and many fires broke out.

The attack was pressed Home and considerable damage was caused.

clear, and this enabled very accurate bombing of the docks to be carried out.

The Germans have admitted that four public buildings, including again the German State Library, were among those hit.

The 1200-mile flight there and back was made under difficult weather conditions, and when the first planes arrived over the city they found the city's defences in full operation. They dropped flares, and when the last of the bombers turned for home the city was checkered with fires, for the most part in the heart of the capital.

On the way to and from Berlin the bombers had to fly through anti-air-craft fire and searchlights. Two German night fighters were shot down.

Three times one bomber crossed

None of the aircraft used is missing. ' ■

During the day a.widespread search for enemy shipping continued. Several merchant vessels were attacked, one was damaged and probably sank, and another was blown up in harbour.

Bombs were also "dropped on targets in Holland, including Rotterdam, Cologne, and on'a number of places in north-west Germany.

From all raids, including last night's attack on Berlin, eight Royal Air Force aircraft are missing.