SYLT ISLAND

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1940, Page 7

SYLT ISLAND

RAIDED BY R.A.F. LARGE FORCE ENGAGED. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, March 19. An Air Ministry communique states:—“The R.A.F.' to-night, attacked and -severely damaged the German air base of Hornum on Sylt. Island. This action follows the attack against the shore bases at the Orkneys.” The Official News Agency at Berlin said the raid was carried out in three waves at 7-57 p.m., 8.58 p.m., and 9.16 p.m. A message from Copenhagen stated that the R.A.F. reached Sylt about 10 p.m. and that it was evidently a big scale attack. Danish watchers counted 78 explosions during the raid. Mr. Chamberlain, in the Commons at 10.20 p.m., said that the attack was still continuing. Mr. Chamberlain’s report of the Sylt raid came 400 miles from the leading ’plane while it was directing the attack. (Officials rushed and decoded the messages for Mr. Chamberlain, who made them public before the end of the raid. This is probably unprecedented. The attack was still continuing at midnight.

The raid was made almost at the moment when Lord Strabolgi, in the Lords, was declaring that the public expected “instant and successful reprisals,” and Lord Halifax was referring to the action the R.A.F. might take “at the appropriate time.” Air Ministry Account EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE. RAIDS CONTINUE FOR SEVEN HOURS. (Received March 20. 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 20. The Air Ministry has announced that R.A.F. bombers attacked Sylt Island in relays. They attacked almost continuously. A vast quantity ot bombs was dropped. The bombs extensively damaged hangars^. workshops and slipways. By 3.30 a.m. all of the' aircraft that then were due back had landed safely. The enemy’s Hornum base was at first identified by moonlight. Thereafter fires were started by the first bombs. These fires provided an unmistakable euide. The pilot of one machine reported that one bomb burst between two hangars and two near slipways. A communique was issued by the Air Ministry at 4.15 a.m. It stated: The attack on Hornum base, which Was started at 8 p.m., was still progressing at 3 a.m. The first of the participating aircraft have already returned safely. Pilots reported the accurate bombing of their objectives. Some searchlight and. anti-aircraft gun opposition .was encountered.