HEAVILY ATTACKED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 7 August 1941, Page 5

HEAVILY ATTACKED

MANNHEIM AND FRANKFURT WIDESPREAD R.A.F. ACTIVITY SUPPLY SHIP AT NANTES BOMBED (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) Rugby, Aug 6. An Air Ministry communique describing R.A.F. operations in enemy territory last night says that Mannheim and Frankfurt—on-Maine were heavily attacked while factories and railways at Aachen and docks at Ostend were among other targets bombed during the night. A Beaufort aircraft of the Coastal Command on patrol last night bombed a large supply ship in the enemy occupied port of Nantes. Two direct hits on the ship were observed. From these operations nine of our bombers are missing. Referring to the bombing of the supply ship an Air Ministry Bulletin states that the ship was 400 feet long and was alongside the quays of Nantes harbour. Before any guns could open up the Beaufort pilot dived to a few hundred feet and flew along the ship from its bows to the stern. Heavy bombs struck at each end of the vessel and a column of smoke rose eighty feet from the stern. Immediately afterwards from the bows came a great flash and a shower ot sparks and light debris. Other bombs which had a slight delay action probably burst below decks but the explosion of the first two had their effect. A minute or two later when the crew' of the Beaufort looked back there was a dense pillar of smoke 15( feet high over the ship. ENEMY SHIPPING LOSSES Reviewing the war situation in the House of Commons this afternoon the Lord Privy Seal Mr Atlee disclosed that 459.000 tons of enemy shipping had been sunk or damaged during July. ESSEN ATTACKED 22 TIMES The Air Minister Sir Archibald Sinclair, disclosed in a parliamentary answer that the armament works at Essen had been attacked on twenty-two occasions.—B.O.W.