CHEMICAL PLANT HIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 77, 27 September 1941, Page 10

CHEMICAL PLANT HIT

GOSNAY RAID DESCRIBED

RUGBY, Sept. 25,

Reconnaissance has now proved the success of a number of attacks made in daylight last weekend when the Bomber and Fighter Commands were exceptionally busy over the Continent. With and without fighter escort, states the Air Ministry news service, the bombers were out in daylight over Norway,' over Emden, and over Dutch territory, while in France they attacked a number of points which have become essential cogs in the German war machine.

The bombing of the electric power station and chemical works at Gosnay, near Bethune, last Sunday was conspicuously successful. While a strong force of fighters kept all the Messerschmitts away, Blenheim crews were able fo make steady bombing runs over the great area of the works, and almost at leisure direct bombs at the most impbrtant and vulnerable parts. There was a direct hit, and possibly two, on the south-west boiler-house of the power station, and another on the north-east boiler house.

Bombs burst on the railway sidings and" rolling stock. Several bombs fell along the south-west edge 'of., the dynamo house and on the coal washing plant.

The coal conveyer and workshops were hit again and again. There were at least six direct hits on the chemical works, bombs burst on the oil pipe line, and finally incendiaries fell right among the oil tanks, where they would be likely to do as much harm as anywhere in the plant.—B.O.W.'