BASES RAIDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20281, 24 June 1940, Page 6

BASES RAIDED

NAZI AERODROMES BRITISH SUCCESSES AIRCRAFT DESTROYED BUILDINGS WRECKED STORES AND RAILWAYS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Oilieinl Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, June 22. German aircraft concentrated at aerodromes in Germany, France and Holland were attacked by bombers of the Royal Air Force throughout Thursday and in the early hours of Friday morning. Tire first attack was directed against an aerodrome at Rouen, where, in the course of the previous raid, more than 25 enemy aircraft had been observed and several were destroyed. In Thursday’s raid more than 400 incendiary bombs were scattered over the whole target area and one salvo Of high explosives, falling among four twinengined aircraft on the tarmac, set two of them on fire and no doubt severely damaged the others. Twinengined aircraft dispersed round the edge of the aerodrome were also hit, and other bombs'fell directly on the' hangars, which were being speedily completed by the enemy.

A few hours after this raid, another squadron of bomber's attacked Schipol aerodrome, Amsterdam, from which enemy bombers are believed to operate against England. More than 80 bombs were observed to burst among aircraft on the tarmac, runways, and near the hangars on the south-east side of the aerodrome before the antiaircraft guns were able to get up an effective barrage. Heavy Batteries Defied Another enemy-occupied aerodrome in Holland attacked in the course of the night’s operations was ITaamstede, on the island of Schouven, where bombs were dropped on the target despite the fact that the raiders were opposed by batteries of heavy guns in a nearby village. Shortly after midnight, a formation of heavy bombers attacked the aerodromes at Paderbom, between' Cassel and Munster, and dropped nearly 200 incendiary bombs besides high explosive bombs on the hangars and sheds in which aircraft equipment is housed. Several direct hits on the hangars were followed by explosions and fires. Salvos of bombs also were observed bursting along the edges of the aerodrome, where aircraft are usually dispersed. The Munster aerodrome, already damaged in a series of recent raids, was again attacked, and at another aerodrome bombs were seen .to burst near 14 big sheds, many of which were set alight. Raids on railway junctions and goods yards in north-west Germany were also made. At Hitzaker. 50 miles south-east of Hamburg, a large works was subjected to a 10-minute attack, during which a salvo of bombs fell across the buildings, which were soon hidden in clouds of smoke. Eight Hits Registered Eight hits were registered on the marshalling yards at Ludwigshaven, and nt Osterfeld a large military storehouse on the wharfside was seen to collapse a minute or two after the first salvo had been dropped. The Air Ministry bulletin contains further details of the bombing and wrecking of a big new Nazi gun emplacement by aircraft of the Fleet Air Ann, The aircraft, led by a young Canadian, swept down on the target, dive-bombing in the face of tremendous fire from heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns. One aircraft was shot down, and all the others returned safely. In connection with the successful wrecking by the Fleet Air Arm of the newly-built German gun emplacement at Calais, it is pointed out that British volunteer wrecking squads completely put out of action the harbours of Dieppe, Le Havre, Brest and Cherbourg before evacuating. A communique issued by the Air Ministry states that the Fleet Air Arm and Coastal Command yesterday attacked Willesmsoord, which is a Ger-man-occupied harbour in Holland, and dropped nearly five tons of heavy and incendiary bombs in one minute. Warehouses and an oil storage depot were set on fire and naval storehouses blown up. Two enemy vessels were sunk and one damaged. German machine - gunners were machine - gunned by the British flyers. One enemy fighter and one British plane were shot down.