R.A.F. Hits Hard And Often

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1940, Page 6

R.A.F. Hits Hard And Often

1 (Received 2.30 p.m.) | LONDON, June 6. ■ An official statement says strong forces of R.A.F. medium bombers were continually engaged last night and today attacking German mechanised units, troop concentrations and . lines of communication. | Hits were registered on two convoys, a military train was derailed, ; and strategic roads and railways rendered temporarily unusable. In addition, oil refineries and marshalling yards in the Ruhr and near Hamburg were again bombed for the fifth night in succession. German Lines Attacked Operations against the German lines began before dusk when medium bombers vigorously and successfully attacked roads and rail junctions between Amiens and Arras. Intensive anti-aircraft opposition was encountered, enemy fighters also attempting to intercept the raiders when returning home. Cne enemy plane was shot down. In one instance, says a British Official Wireless message , a Messerschmitt 110 , attacking from cleacl astern, was hit in the pert engine and at once broke off the engagement, disappearing from view with flames streaming from the damaged engine. Down in Flames Later, three Messerschmitt 109 s made an effort to break up a section of the British formation, but the attempt was abandoned as soon as one of the enemy fighters was seen to go down in flames. An hour after the medium fcjombers ended a long bombardment of the enemy’s lines of communication, a formation of heavy bombers arrived on the scene to attack similar targets. Further widespread damage was inflicted on the enemy’s transport lines. On the outskirts of Albert, a strong convoy was observed moving towards a wood. Darkness had set in, and flares were dropped to illuminate vehicles. Salvo Disorganises Column. A few minutes later a salvo completely disorganised the rear of the column, while other bombs, exploding among the lorries, which reached cover in the trees, also took their toll. In the area of Doullens other bombers came upon another mechanised unit and again broke it up, .at least two bombs scoring direct hits.

Attacks were then made on another of the woods, and by the time the last of the bombers turnf ed for home a chain of fire was seen over the whole target area. Kiel Oil Depot Bombed. Another oil depot near Kiel Canal was bombed by other aircraft, which also attacked military objectives in Heligoland. Other heavy bombers, penetrating Germany, bombed railway marshalling yards at Wedau, Eschweiler and Rh'eydt. South of Geldern fires were started along a railway line, and it is thought that traffic must have been disorganised as a result of the attack. “Fires were burning steadily when last seen,” it was reported. Six Enemy Planes Downed. Six enemy aircraft were destroyed and one British fighter was shot down. British bombers throughout the night attacked enemy troops concentrations and harassed the enemy movements behind the fighting fronts. Other formations of heavy bombers struck at junctions and marshalling yards west of the Ruhr, while others attacked military objectives in Germany. Two of our bombers are missing. Coastal Command planes made a further raid on oil fuel depots in Belgium, and bombed oil tanks in Ghent. They then flew low and machinegunned targets.

Blazing oil was visible for many miles.