WARSHIPS HIT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20547, 6 May 1941, Page 7

WARSHIPS HIT

BRITISH BOMBS ATTACK ON BREST ENEMY VESSELS SUNK WIDESPREAD RAIDING (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY. May 5. An Air Ministry communique describes among many operations successful attacks on the German battle-cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst in Brest docks.

It state-: “Taking advantage of good weather over the west coast of France, strong forces of aircraft of the Bomber Command last night again attacked

! 'ie enemv battle-cruisers which arc still at Brest. Many heavy bombs were dropped and hits were observed on and very near the battle-cruisers. " The docks on both sides of the harbour were hit and large fires were started. Smaller forces attacked the docks and shipping at Rotterdam, Antwerp and Le Havre. Near Antwerp a direct hit was obtained on an enemy supply ship of about 1500 tons. Daylight Sweep

' In the course of a daylight sweep carried out yesterday by aircraft of the Bomber Command, an enemy patrol vessel was hit and left sinking.

“Aircraft of the Coastal Command last night bombed the docks at Saint Nazaire and started several fires. About dusk last evening Coastal Command aircraft on patrol bombed an enemy supply ship of about 3000 tons rff the coast of Norway and attacked other objectives in south Norway. None of our aircraft is missing from these operations.”

Aircraft of tire Coastal Command look advantage of the moonlight last night to harry the enemy from Norway to the coast of Brittany, states the Air Ministry news service.

A German supply ship of 3000 tons anchoring in the Skagerrak in a convoy was bombed and hit a few minutes after midnight by a Blenheim, the pilot of which made three runs over the target. Clouds of black smoke belched from the ship’s bows. ' Other Blenheims on the same patrol straddled a second supply ship with bombs and attacked docks in southern Norway. The gunner, of a Blenheim which reconnoitred Stavanger shot out three troublesome searchlights. Blenheims also bombed Querquevillc aerodrome, near Cherbourg, and hit the barracks.

Another Coastal Command squadron attacked the docks at St. Nazaire ::n Hie Breton coast. In a few minutes there was a great rectangle of fire in the naval base. Incoming pilots saw a series of explosions and added their bombs to the havoc.