DARING RAIDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 126, 29 April 1941, Page 5

DARING RAIDS

OPERATIONS BY R.A.F. WIDE AREA SWEPT. (United Press Association—Copyright) (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, April 28. An Air Ministry communique says that in daylight, yesterday, planes of the Bomber Command successfully bombed a factory west of Cologne and a military camp near Cologne. The clocks at Jjmuidcn and the aerodrome at De Kooy (•Holland) were also attacked.

j. Oil: the coast of Brittany an enemy patrol vessel was hit with bombs and j left on fire, listing heavily. 1 In an offensive patrol planes of the | Fighter Command over Holland yesterday machine-gunned positions and a supply train. None of our planes is missing. The Bomber Command’s daring daylight attack on the industrial plant in the neighbourhood of Cologne was made with the skilful use of cloud cover, states the Air Ministry. After the outward journey of nearly 300 miles the British aircraft flashed out of the clouds and dropped their bombs on the factory buildings and military camp. * Other aircraft swept the French coast for enemy shipping. An enemy patrol vessel of about 1250 tons was sighted a few miles south of St. Mathieu Point and there was an immediate engagement. The ship put up a vigorous defence. which continued until a heavy bomb exploded amidships. A successful daylight attack by one of the new Stirling heavy bombers was made to-day on Emden. This aircraft came down to a low altitude, dropped- its heavy load of bombs, then opened machine-gun fire from 1500 ft. PORTSMOUTH SUFFERS.. It is announced that the main target of the Luftwaffe’s attack last night was Portsmouth. An enemy aircraft is reported to have been destroyed when attacking this town. Waves of raiders, in a short but fierce attack on Portsmouth, directly bit two hospitals, a cinema, an hotel, and a number of houses. Three direct hits practically razed a hospital to the ground. The patients had been previously evacuated, but casualties occurred among members of the staff. Incendiary bombs set fire to another hospital from which the patients were safely taken to shelters. Rescue squads are digging to-day for those trapped in wrecked houses in the residential area. A Berlin communique says strong formations of bombers again attacked the harbour works at .Portsmouth, large fires being observed. An Air Ministry communique slates: “Enemy activity was confined to the early part of the night. It was mostly directed to Portsmouth where there was a sharp attack, r l he casualties were rather heavy, although the number killed was not large. Incidents also occurred in South-West England and North-East Scotland.” A later communique states that this morning single enemy aircraft approached the north-east coast of Scotland and attacked with their machineguns a town and several villages. At one point bombs were also dropped. The damage caused in all these incidents was small, but one person was injured. . • ' Bombs dropped on the east coast of England this morning caused some damage, but no casualties. This afternoon an enemy aircraft dropped bombs over the north-east coast of England, when a number were injured but the damage was small..