Colossal Damage in Three Successive Raids

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 4, 6 January 1941, Page 5

Colossal Damage in Three Successive Raids

WHOLE CITY ILLUMINATED BY TIRES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 5. 'Friday night's attack oir Bremen was very destructive. In the words of one pilot the fires “lit up Bremen and showed the shape of the whole town. ’ *

’ The raids began early in the evening, the first aircraft arriving soon after 7 p.m. It took no more than three hours to d,o all this damage and the last bomber was away shortly after 10. Many of the aircraft began the journey in weather as bad as winter can make it and with no break in the low clouds until they came to the Dutch coast, but on the rest of the journey the pilots reported that the weather was clearer over Holland, good over Germany and perfect over Bremen itself. The night was so clear that one of the pilots could see very plainly from 10,000 feet two ships in the Hunte-Ems Canal. It was only when dense black smoke began to roll over the town and spreading fires began to blur the outlines of the factories and dockyards that the pilots had any difficulty in recognising their objectives. Bremen is a great industrial centre as well as the second largest seaport in Germany and offers a variety of targets. The dockyards, naval base and shipbuilding yards were once again attacked. Bombers also hit factories, warehouses, railways and gcodsyards. As well as incendiaries they dropped many large high explosive bombs which were so destructive that even the crews and aircraft flying high could see the debris flung up by the explosions. One of the largest factory buildings in the city was ablaze from end to end. There were violent explosions distinct frpm the bursting of bombs on the goodsyard. The fire ran along the main railway line and rapidly spread towards the river and in some industrial districts. The general conflagration finally obscured all details and nothing could be seen but a swirling mass of flame. An Air Ministry communique says: “The industrial area of Bremen was attacked in good visibility last night by Bomber Command aircraft. The target was repeatedly hit bv bombs of large and medium calibres and manv incendiaries were dropped. Eighteen red fires were observed, four of which were large, and so manv white fires that the number could not be counted. “Aircraft arriving later on the scene found the target area a sea ,of flames. One of our aircraft drove off and damaged a twin-engined enemy fighter which sought to interfere. “Other targets in enemv-occupied territory were also attacked. One of our aircraft is missincr.”