Another Raid Made on Bremen

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

Another Raid Made on Bremen

DESTRUCTION OF PREVIOUS NIGHT ADDED TO United Press Association—By JElec;rlo Telegraph—Copyrigh t. LONDON, Jan. 3. An Air Ministry communique says that the R.A.F. again raided Bremen on Thursday Night. "Although Thursday night’s raid on Bremen was not on the same scale as Wednesday night’s” says the communique, “the attack was again very successful, large new fires being started. The fires from the previous night were seen still burning and increasing. An early report speak,-, of the pilots being unable to observe the bursts of their bombs on account of the flames.” It is understood that the raids on Bremen and Emden were on a heavy scale. The raid on Bremen combined a reconnaissance flight with the attack, following up the previous night’s bombardment. The Emden attack was the 29th of the war, and it is believed that shipping, docks, aerodromes and oil stores were bombed. Tlie Air Ministry communique dealing with last night’s attacks on the naval base, shipyards and railway station at Bremen states that so large were the fires started in the areas of the docks and main railway station that it \vas not possible accurately to observe the bursts of the bombs dropped by aircraft arriving later during the course of the operations, says a British Official Wireless message. Other aircraft attacked oil targets at Emden and Amsterdam and a railway junction near Bremen. One British plane is missing.

Read ‘Thriller” While Over Germany ICE CUTS FUSELAGE (British Official Wireless) (Received 4, 12.5 p.m.)' RUGBY, Jan. 3. The journey to and from Germany » graphically described by an R.A.F. pilot for the Air Ministry News Service. These long journeys are often monotonous, but, he says: ‘‘One night I thought there was almost too much excitement.” The bomber was on the way home affer running into intense anti-aircraft fire during the successful bombing of an oil plant. “Ice began to form on the air screw,” he says, “and though we went up and down to get out of the layer of cold and moisture which is always apt to produce ice, it was not at all easy to find better weather. The ice was driving back off the airscrew and hitting the fuselage. Some of the largest pieces were making holes in it and letting in the cold. The holes were not very large, but the pieces of ice were driving so hard against us that I wondered for a moment if it were shrapnel. “As I was second pilot and did not have much to do at the moment I thought I would visit the wireless operator. I found him engrossed in a ‘Wild West thriller’ and paying no attention at all to the ice that was cutting up the fuselage or the cold air coming in. He seemed quite disappointed to be dragged back from the adventures of cowboys to the dull prosaic reality of a trip over Germany at one a.m. and the monotony of antiaircraft fire, electric storms or ice com* iflg off the airscrews.”

London Free From Attack' (Received 4, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. It is noteworthy that the Air Ministry communique dealing with last night’s raids on Britain does not specifically mention London, thus supporting the belief that no bombs were dropped in the London area during last night’s raid. An Air Ministry and Home Security communique states that during daylight to-day there has been a little enemy air activity in some of the coastal districts. The only report of bombs is from a town in Kent, where the damage was very slight and there were no casualties. An Air Ministry communique states: “The main enemy attack on Thursday night was directed on a South Wales town, where there was considerable damage to houses and commercial buildings. A number of fires were started, but the fire services had extinguished or controlled them by early morning. A number were killed or injured. Bombs were dropped in other parts of the country, but the damage was trifling.” Damage Done at Liverpool (British Official Wlrelesf) (Received 4, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Jan. 3. It is now stated that during the recent air-raid on Liverpool damage was done to St. George’s Hall, the Adelphi Hotel, the Liverpool parish church— St. Nicholas’ —and the retail fish market. Concerts For Homeless (British Official Wireless) (Received 4, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Jan. 3. Several flying squads of first class! artists who have been giving concerts to homeless people in London are now! available in certain provincial districts.! One party is now in Bristol, and others! ere ready to go to Sheffield and Manchester. These concerts have been given in many shelters fin various towns. This part of the work is being done by the Commmittee for the Encouragement of Music and Arts, whirh celebrated its first birthday on January 1. A total of 240 concerts were given last month.