SMASHING RAID

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20632, 13 August 1941, Page 6

SMASHING RAID

COLOGNE PLANTS POWER STATIONS FIRED WIDE R.A.F. ATTACKS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 12. “Six squadrons of Blenheims of the Bomber Command penetrated into the Rhineland this morning to attack the great Cologne power stations at Quadrath and Knapsack,” states an Air Ministry communique. “Fighters accompanied the bombers as far as Antwerp and the bombers then went bn alone. “The bombers often flew at less than 100 ft, on their 150 miles’ penetration of the German defence system. Both power stations were attacked at 11.30 a.m. at point-blank range. A great number of bombs scored direct hits and the targets were left in flames. The fighters met the returning bombers at Antwerp, covering their withdrawal across the North Sea, while another strong force of fighters patrolled the Dutch coast in support. “About the same time Hampden bombers, with a fighter escort, attacked the railways near St. Omer and the power station at Gosnay. Three enemy fighters were destroyed by the escorts. “A ‘flying fortress’ aircraft attacked the aerodrome at De Kooy and objectives at Cologne and Emden. The losses in all these operations were 12 Blenheims and eight fighters.”