R.A.F. RAIDS HAMBURG

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1940, Page 5

R.A.F. RAIDS HAMBURG

DOCKS SET ABLAZE Other Ports Bombed THIRTEEN PLANES LOST I British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, September P Enemy ports, shipping, and barge concentrations were heavily attacked by the -R.A.F'. yesterday” and last night, according to an Air Ministry communique, which states: “In the course of routine reconnaissances yesterday, our bombers attacked shipping in the ports of Dunkirk and Boulogne, and convoys in the North Sea. Five of our aircraft are missing. Last night, in spite of severe weather conditions over the Continental coastline, strong forces of bombers carried out operations against the enemy and enemy-occu-pied ports, barge concentrations and shipping at Hamburg, Bremen. Ostend, Calais and Boulogne. Widespread damage was done io oil tanks and ammunition stores. Many fires were started. Eight of our aircraft did not return.

R.A.F. bombers which made a concentrated attack on Hamburg last night, were over the docks and shipyards in relays for over three hours. Methodically pinpointing their targets, they released salvo after salvo of heavy bombs and hundreds of incendiaries. Repeatedly, sticks of heavy bombs were seen to crash across the docks and port installations. Many sticks of high explosive bombs straddled the Blohm and Voss yards. Fires broke out in many parts of the wide target area. Although some died down again, others caught on and burnt fiercely.

The crew of one aircraft saw the wharves and railway station on the north bank of the Elbe burning, another fire at Hanshafen, and 'he glow of a third down-stream near Altona. One of the early raiders, who dropped a stick of bombs across the docks, saw two fires begin, aoout 500 yards apart, on the north bank, close to the mouth of the Elbe tunnel.

By 11 p.m. low cloud formed, and a pilot arriving then said: “We could see little, owing to the clouds, haze, darkness and heavy anti-aircraft fire, but we did see that our bombs straddled the docks.” Bombs could be seen bursting among the dockside buildings, while a fierce anti-aircraft barrage continued. More fires broke out, and they were burning fiercely as the bombers left. The glare in the sky over the docks could be seen from GO miles away by raiders on the homeward journey.

THE GERMAN ACCOUNT LONDON, September 9. The German radio, describing the R.A.F. raid on Hamburg, rays: “Between 60 and 70 bombs fell, destroying 30 dwelling-houses. No military objectives were hit. “The British also bombed residenial districts.at Kiel and Luenberg. ‘fThe British Air Force, too weak and cowardly to meet the Germans in open battle, restricts itself to defence and night attacks against Germany.” EMDEN DOCKYARD FIRES. (Received Sept. 10, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, September 9. “Fires have been started which were quit e as big as anything I saw in London,” was the desertion ot the result of bombs dropped oy R.A.F. aircraft on the Emden docxyard, given by a reargunner who lias been spending leav e in London. The attack on Emden was mad e on Sunday night, at the sam e tim e as the other British aircraft were bombing Boulogne RAIDERS ON BOULOGNE HAVE DIFFICULT TIME. RUGBY, September 9Som e of the R.A.F. raiders who on Sunday night attacked the occupied French harbour of Boulogne experienced difficult weather conditions on th e way to the target. Leaving England in fine conditions, these aircraft encountered electrical storms after a half-hour’s journey. As freezing level was only six thousand feet, it was impossible to rise above it, and they were unable to get below, as it went down as far as ground level,. Describing the voyag e th e pilot of on P aircraft said: “Our aircraft were being thrown about th e sky. It was absolutely impossible to kiep a steady speed or height. Once or twice we wer ? jerked up at least six hundred fest by an electrical current. When w e got over the target, our port engin e was hit. and there was a burst (of flame as the oil started burning. Then the flames disappeared, but we were running on an engine and a half for the rest of th e time. On the way back we found our wireless was out of action owing to the storm It was largely thanks to th P navigator that we got nome. He gave m P the courses which brought u s in dead over the aerodrome. Just as we were turning in to land, our port engine failed completely.”

GERMAN REPORT. BERLIN, September 9. A communique states: British planes attacked residential quarters in Hamburg, and damaged several houses. Sonin civilians wore injured.