RAIN OF BOMBS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 7

RAIN OF BOMBS

BRITISH SQUADRONS GERMAN OIL STORES HARASSING OF COLUMNS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received May 20. 0.3,~> p.m.) LONDON. May 10 It is officially stated that British aeroplanes on Saturday night again raided the oil depots at Hamburg and Bremen, and also scored direct hits on the oil tanks at Hanover. Bombers also carried out extensive operations in Belgium and France, harassing the German lines of communication. They relieved pressure against the Allied armies and hit bridges in southern Belgium, broke up troop concentrations, and blocked roads. The Royal Air Force also patrolled over Western Germany all nipht and took action against military traffic. Wide Area o 1 Raids Further particulars of the operations carried out by the Boyal Air Force on Friday night, when the oil storage tanks at Bremen and Hamburg were among the targets attacked, show that the area of the raids extended from Hamburg in the noFth to Sedan in the south, says a British official wireless message. • /

Troop columns and road and rail junctions in many parts of German and enemy-occupied territory were also effectively bombed. Whitley, Wellington and Hampden heavy bombers took part. Throughout Friday night and the early hours of Saturday morning relays of these aircraft kept up a continuous bombardment of enemy objectives of vital importance. Attacked For Five Hours Oil depots at Bremen were subjected to repeated attacks by relays of Whitleys for over live hours. More than 300 high explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped on this target. A direct hit on a large petrol storage tank resulted in a terrific explosion, from which vast sheets of flame shot up to a height of 2000 ft. At Hamburg oil depots were systematically bombed by largo forces of Hampden aircx - aft in a series of raids beginning soon after 10 p.m. and not ending until dawn. The explosion of a salvo of heavy bombs was followed by a terrific mass of llame, and the outburst of §re was observed from as far away as Cuxhaven. The Air Ministry announces that again on Sunday night the Royal Air Force bombing of the enomy lines of communication in south Belgium and of selected military objectives in western Germany was continued. Five British fighter patrols yesterday shot down at least 20, and possibly UO, enemy machines, including 11 Megscrschmitt 110's, Germany's most modern fighters. Three British machines were shot down.

AIR ACE MISSING AUSTRALIAN PILOT / ADELAIDE. May 20 Australia's leading air ace, FlyingOfficer L. O. Clisby, is reported to be missing after operations on the Western Front on May 14. A telegram conveying the news was received by his parents. It was reported from London "last week at almost the same time as Flying-Officer Clisby is stated to havo been missing, that he and FlyingOfficer E. J. Kain, of Now Zealand, shared the honour ,of being the loading aces in the Royal Air Force advanced striking force.. Flying-Officer- Clisby was then credited, with having shot down Id enemy mucin lies.