Channel Ports Bombed by the R.A.F.

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 270, 2 November 1940, Page 7

Channel Ports Bombed by the R.A.F.

E-BOATS ATTACKED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 31. R.A.F. operations were restricted on Wednesday niglit owing to bad wea/ther, but docks at Hamburg and Flushing were heavily bombed, and the naval base cf Emdea was attacked. Cherbourg harbour was attacked during daylight operations yesterday. Dockside buildings were hit, and a heavy salvo was dropped among four E-boats (motor torpedo-boats) cruising 20 miles out at sea. One enemy aircraft was destroyed, and one British aircraft is missing. Details of the attacks on the invasion ports and on German territory show that many tons of high-explcsive and incendiary bombs were dropped in the German-occupied ports of Flushing and Antwerp and on Emden. The attack on Flushing began early in the evening and lasted just over an hour. Several sticks of bombs were dropped on the Walchern Canal and on the inner and outer harbours. Claud and haze made it difficult to see the full results of the bombing. An Air Ministry bulletin containing this information also states that, at Emden, bursts were observed on the quay of the main waterway and east of the main entrance. One very bright fire vras started, and other fires in the area were seen to spread rapidly. One aircraft attacked a nearby railway junction, and here again a large fire occurred.

A small force of Blenheims on Wednesday night attacked targets in Ostend harbour which had previously been attacked but had since been repaired. Easy identification of the targets enabled the bombers to score direct hits freely on quays and shipping berths. Every second bomb-burst was followed by heavy explosions, and debris was thrown high Into the air.