MORE RAIDS ON RUHR

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1941, Page 7

MORE RAIDS ON RUHR

GOOD RESULTS REPORTED I GERMAN ADMISSIONS LONDON, July 16. Machines of the Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force last night attacked targets in Duisberg- and elsewhere in the Ruhr. Good results were achieved in spite of unfavourable weather. Three machines are missing from these operations. , The German radio, in admitting the raids, mentioned Altona, near Hamburg, as one of the places attacked. Other operations were carried out by machines of the Fighter Command which attacked an enemy aerodrome in northern France. FURTHER SUCCESSES. RUGBY, July 16. An Air Ministry communique states: It is now known that one of our bombers destroyed an enemy fighter over Germany, last night. A Beaufort aircraft of the Coastal Command this morning attacked an enemy supply-ship of about 3500 tons, off the north-west coast of France. A salvo of bombs were dropped ,and hits were seen on the stern of the ship.—B.O.W. R.A.F. fighters, it is officially stated, shot down an enemy bomber into the sea off the south this morning. ROTTERDAM SHIPS HIT. RUGBY, July 16. An Air Ministry communique, issued at midnight said: On Wednesday afternoon, raids were made on enemy shipping in the docks at Rotterdam. Several squadrons of Blenheims of the Bomber Command were engaged in the operation, and the attack! wes pressed home with great daring, from a very low level. Preliminary reports show that direct hits were made on many ships, including a vessel of about fifteen thousand tons, and a number of others of between two thousand and ten thousand tons. Heavy damage was also done to warehouses and stores. Four of our aircraft are missing. Two of these were actually seen to bomb their targets. 350 TONS~OF BOMBS. RUGBY, July 16. Figures illustrating the increasing intensity of the bombardment oi Germany’s ndustrial machine and means of transport were macle available to-day, when it was revealed that between June 16 and July 10 nearly 1000 tons of bombs were dropped on Cologne, and over five tons on Bremen, n the same period, the industrial Ruhr received over 2000 tons. . Daylight targets m northern France consist of industrial plants and power-stations used b” the Germans. Thus, at Lille, two of the three power-stations supplying the industries of that town have been attacked, and substantially put out ol action.—B.O.W. HAVOC AT HANOVER LONDON, July 16. Pilots who dropped powerful bombs during Monday night’s attack on north-west Germany report that they exploded with “immense flashes. At Hanover, the destruction caused by these shattering missiles must have been spread over a great area, and details of buildings lit by the brilliance of the bursts sprang clear to the eye. Both at Hanover and among the docks at Bremen there were raging fires and impressive clouds of smoke following direct hits on large industrial buildings. -- • - ■' , , The British aircraft had a hard journey over the North Sea, meeting thick, cold clouds rising to great heights. Over both Bremen and Hanover, though clear weather made for accurate bombing, there was a vicious barrage through which the bombers had to pass, but with shrapnel bursting round them and even when hit oy flying fragments, they kept a straight course over the target. One pilot, though his aircraft was hit several times over Hanover, went on and bombed his target. Bursts were seen directly on it. This aircraft in fact, was so badly shot up that when it was later attacked by an enemy fighter, the front gunner found that his guns would not work, but bydiving almost to sea level the captain shook off the fighter. Soon after this he found that his under-carriage had been hit and his wing flaps were out of control. His petrol was also running short, and when he reached the coast the captain ordered the crew to bail out. with so much damage he doubted whether he could make a safe landing. The members of the crew all came safely to the ground and were eventually taken to their own aerodrome by lorry. When they got there they found the captain waiting for them. He had managed to land the aircraft after all. “REPRISALS” RUGBY, July 16. ' Mr. Churchill’s statement on Monday that “in the last few weeks alone we have dropped on Germany about half the whole weight of bombs dropped on our own cities since the war began.” is noted by the Press with a certain grim satisfaction, primarily due to the clear revelation which the statement provides of the enormously increased striking power of the Royal Air Force. The “Manchester Guardian” states: “As moral beings we suppose that we have no right to feel glad that the Germans are at last tasting their own terrible medicine as combatants in a merciless war, but we can rejoice that our country’s strength is rising sufficiently of us to take the offensive.” “As for the material damage caused to the enemy,” states “The Times,’ “it has undoubtedly been great and the German radio has been compelled to issue excuses to the civil population for the apparent lack of adequate protection for their person and property.” RAID ON BRITAIN LONDON, July 16. A.very small number of enemy aircraft flew over coastal areas of Britain last night. Single aircraft dropped bombs on a place on the south-east coast. These caused some damage and a small number of casualties. LEGLESS AIRMAN. LONDON, July 15. Asting-Wing Commander D. R. Bader-, ' D.F.C., D. 5.0., the legless fighter pilot, has been awarded a bar to his D.S.O. He lost both legs in a flying accident when he was preparing for the Hendon display 10 years ag The official account states: “This officer has led his wing on a series of consistently successful sorites over enemy territory in the last three months. His high qualities of leadership and courage have been an inspiration to all. Acting-Wing Commander Bader has destroyed 15 enemy, aircraft.”