GERMAN BATTLESHIPS

Grey River Argus, 26 July 1941, Page 5

GERMAN BATTLESHIPS

BOMBED IN FRANCE Scharnhorst’s Escape From Erest [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, July 24. The Air Ministry sitates: During the past 24 hours, extensive operations have been undertaken, by tne Bomber Command against the German battleships, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. i ~ The Scharnhorst was discovered on Wednesday to have been moved from Brest to La Pallice, 240 miles south. Before darkness fell that day, an attack was made by Stirling heavy bombers on the Scharnhorst. as it lay alongside a breakwater. Very heavy armour-piercing bombs were dropped and a direct hit was observed. This formation met heavy anti-aircraft fire, and was intercepted by a number of Messerschmitt 109’s. Two of these were were destroyed by one Stirling. This' attack was followed up during the night by a strong attack on La Pallice by a force of heavy bombers On Thursday at 2 p.m., the Gneisenau at Brest and the Scharnhorst at La' Pallice. were simultaneously attacked by a very strong force of heavy bombers. The attack on Brest was supported by squadrons of fighters. At the ‘ same time, squadrons of Blenheims, escorted by fighters, were attacking the port of Cherbourg. Preliminary reports on the operations last night, received to-day, indicate that these attacks were successful. Several direct hits have been scored on the battleships,and heavy damage done to the docks at all the three ports. American-built “flying fortresses” took part in the attack on the Gneisenau at Brest. FURTHER DETAILS. SEVERAL HITS ON “GNEISENAU” (Rec. 11.30) RUGBY. July 25. The Air Ministry in its communique, dealing with heavy successful daylight attacks on ths “Gneisenau,” and “Scharnhorst” at Brest and La Pallice' states: Operations at Brest were opened bv American “fortress” bombers shortlv after 2 p.m. These were followed bv a main body comprising Hampden and We lington bombers, and the attack was continuous until 3.45 p.m. At the same time a force of Halifax heavy bombers attacked the Scharnnorst at La Pallice. Both attacks were strongly contested by the- enemy’s fighter planes and anti-aircraft gunners, but these did not affect the impetuosity of volume of the attacks, which were pressed home, several hits being observed on the Gneisenau, and several sticks of bombs were seen to straddle the dock in which she was ly'ng, The Scharnhorst, which had already been damaged bv a Stirling on the previous afternoon, was again hit. Great damage was done to the dockyard at Brest, where the German cruiser Prinz Eugen and a large tanker were stradd’ed. Meanwhile, attacks wer? being delivered on Cherbourg and Hazelbrouch. 22 British Planes LOST IN THE RAIDS, ENEMY LOSES 24. (Rec. 11.30). RUGBY, July 25. The Air Ministry, in its report, stated: From the operations which began on Wednesday evening against the enemy battleships at French ports, a total of fifteen of our bomber planes are missing. “Twelve enemy fighters fell to the guns of our bombers on Thursday. Spitfires and Hurricanes provided powerful support throughout their operations, destroying twelve more enemy fighters. Seven of our fighter planes are missing. Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse sent congratulatory messages to the Bomber and Fighter Commands.