SYSTEMATIC ATTACKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 211, 5 August 1940, Page 7

SYSTEMATIC ATTACKS.

R.A.F. OVER CONTINENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Aug. 3. An Air Ministry communique states: “Yesterday Royal Air Force bombers made daylight raids ou a number of aerodromes in. France, Belgium and Holland. Hits were scored ou hangars and runways, and aircraft on the ground, were bombed and machine-gun-ned from loiv altitudes. There was some opposition from enemy fighters. One of our aircraft is missing. “Our bombers continued their systematic attacks on military objectives in Germany. I.ast night their main targets were depots at Emden, Hamburg, Salzbergen, and Emmerich, and they also attacked several German aerodromes. Large fires were started at Hamburg and Salzbergen, where the damage is considered to have been extensive. One of our aircraft returning from these operations was forced down into the sea ” Further details are given in a later Air Ministry bulletin, which relates how on several occasions Nazi fighters unsuccessful I v attempted to prevent R.A.F. bombers reaching their target. One account deals with an attack on Haamstede, when ail enemy patrol of three attacked the British raiders. A British gunner fired short bursts as ono of the aircraft came within effective range and ho apparently hit it, lor it disappeared with smoke streaming from its starboard wing. A second enemy aircraft is also believed to have been damaged by a bomber's lire as it abruptly broke off the engagement and swerved away, leaving the other aircraft to continue ihc attack unaided. , .AERODROMES HIT.

At Schipol, the airport of Amsterdam, one of tlie raiders damaged several four-engined enemy aircraft which were standing on the edge of a runway. At Waaihaven one hangar was hit and other bombs broke lip the tarmac and runways at Haamstede, Flushing and Leeuwarden. Over Soesterberg, the airport of Utrecht, R.A.E. aircraft met with a heavy barrage, which did not prevent them from drof>ping bombs on their objectives. Among the other successful R.A.F. attacks, 30 hits were made on an 'oil refinery at Salzbergen, near Osnabruck, which has been an important source of supply for benzine, kerosene, gas and lubricating oils. Eight tons of high-explosive bombs were dropped on this target, as well as many incendiary bombs, and one observer saw nine separate bursts. Another raider, taking his time, made two runs over the area as a preliminary to bombing part of the refinery. Aircraft attacking an oil refinery at Emmerich, near the Ger-man-Dutch border, successfully added to the damage already caused in the previous raids. Hits were obtained on the oil plant and several fires were started.