OIL REFINERIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23818, 20 November 1940, Page 9

OIL REFINERIES

HEAVY BRITISH RAIDS DESTRUCTION IN RUHR RAILWAYS ALSO ATTACKED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 18 An Air Ministry communique states: "The main force of our bombers' attack on Sunday night was directed on the oil refinei'ies at Gelsenkirchen. Other aircraft bombed industrial targets in the Ruhr, rail and river communications in western Germany, the naval base at Lorient, in Britanny, and aerodromes in occupied territory. All our aeroplanes returned." The Royal Air Force began attacks on the main target of Sunday night's raids at an exceptionally early hour, says the A ir Ministry news service. The main objectives for concentrated blows were at the Scholven synthetic oil plant at Buer, in the neighbourhood of Gelsenkirchen. This is "one of Germany's most important hydrogenation plants for the manufacture of synthetic aviation petrol from coal, and is designed to produce 300,000 metric tons annually. Two Successive Raids The first British aircraft dropped many high explosive bombs and nearly 1000 incendiary bombs on the target. After about an hour's interval more befmbers arrived over the same plant. This raid lasted nearly two hours. Many more fires and explosions were seen. Another synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen, only second in importance to the Scholven refinery, was raided at intervals from soon after dusk until fairly late in the night. Yet another oil refinery was attacked toward midnight. About five hundred incendiary bombs were dropped. Many fires were seen. Fires Spread Rapidly A railway junction north-east of Gelsenkirchen was hit with heavy high explosive bombs, and at another railway station among the Gelsenkirchen. collieries—for Gelsenkirchen is the chief seam of the coalmining centre in the Ruhr basin, as well as the locality of many oil refineries —incendiary bombs started a long fire and a smaller fire which were seen spreading rapidly. Railway yards near, the main railway station at Gelsenkirchen were raided. The aerodrome at Buer, near Gelsenkirchen, was attacked and incendiary bombs started fires, but a ground haze made full observation of the results impossible. Other aircraft were operating far and wide over western Germany. Fjve large fires were started among the wharves at Duisbcrg-Ruhrort, an inland port on the Rhine. Fires and explosions at Hamm railway junction were observed through a gap in the clouds. An aerodrome north of Dusseldorf was also heavily bombed, three fires merging in one large blaze. A number ot other industrial targets were attacked and bombs were also dropped in the dock areas at Den Helder and Lorient, starting fires. FURTHER BRITISH RAID LONDON. Nov. 1!J A small force of British bombers attacked an oil target in Central Germany last night. EMPIRE AIR SCHEME HINT OF EXTENSION CANADA EAGER TO ACT (Received November 19. 5.35 p.m.) OTTAWA, Nov. IS The Canadian Air .Minister, Mr. C. G. Power, announced that certain United Kingdom flying training schools had been established in Canada. These were technically outside the air training plan, but were, attached for administration to Canada. Aerodromes already constructed had cost nearly 20,000,000 dollars, but that sum was recoverable. Mr. Power added that if it was decided to expand the plan, the Canadian Air Force was ready, willing and eager to undertake greater responsibility. A detachment of Air Force recruits from the Straits Settlements has arrived at a west coast port to join the Empire air group for training. BOMBER DESTROYED CRASH IN YUGOSLAVIA (Received November 10, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 18 It is reported from Belgrade that a Blenheim bomber was burned out when it crashed near Danilovgrad. The pilot apparently lost liis Way and the. machine struck a mountain. The four members of the crew were killed.