R.A.F. TARGETS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24421, 5 October 1940, Page 11

R.A.F. TARGETS

MILITARY OBJECTIVES FURTHER HEAVY ATTACKS DAMAGE AT HAMBURG »i-..»i S n official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, Oct. 3. "Thick cloud and poor visibility hampered the operations of R.A.F. bombers last night," states an Air Ministry communique. "Nevertheless strong forces of aircraft continued the attacks on military objectives in Germany and enemyoccupied territory. Among the targets were oil plants at Stettin. Hamburg and Bottrop, the Krupps works at in goods ards at Cologne railway iunction near Hamm and several enemy aerodromes. The docks at. Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven and Dorts and shipping at Amsterdam, Rotterdam. Antwerp, Flushing. Ostend, Calais. Cherbourg, and Ushant were also bombed. Blenheims of the Coastal Command yesterday destroyed a bomber which unsuccessfully attacked one of our convoys. A Hudson last night shot down a bomber into the sea. Two of ours have not returned." Oil storage plants, dock installations and enemy-occupied aerodromes were the chief objectives in last night's raids by aircraft of the Bomber Command. These raids were the most widespread of the war. Bad weather over the greater part of the operations area, with a fully overcast sky and a cloud layer which extended from 6000 feet to 15,000 feet over the Dutch and Belgian coasts, severely hindered the raiders, who had also to contend with ice-forming conditions at low levels. Bombers Over Hamburg The night's heaviest attack was launched against Hamburg, where a large oil factory storage plant was subjected to nearly two hours' intensive bombardment by relays of heavy bombers. Opening the attack shortly after 10 p.m., the first raider scored direct hits on the target and started four separate fires, which soon soread and merged into one great blaze. High exolosives from the following aircraft also struck the oil storage plant. A salvo which fell in the centre of the target area caused a violent explosion and an urrush of flames which gave off clouds of thick, black smoke. Gaining a firm hold, and growing in intensity, this fire was seen by later arrivals as they approached the target from 50 miles out to sea. Helped by the light of the fire, a second wave of aircraft unloaded more bombs on the oil plant and started a second great blaze. Both fires were still burning strongly and sendine ereat clouds of black smoke billowing across the River Elbe as the last of the attacking force turned for home. Naval Dockyard Attacked Other night bombing forces concentrating on docks and harbours in Germany and enemy-occupied territories raided Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven, Stettin, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Flushing, Ostend, and Ymuiden. Fires were started ne- r the shiobuilding yards at Hamburg, and at Antwerp sticks of high ex~" sives were seen to burst . s the quay wall and along one side of the dock basin. The naval dockyard at Wilhelmshaven was subjected to a series of attacks lasting nearly an hour. Another raiding force which penetrated deep to Germany's Baltic coast attacked the harbour works near Stettin. Other raiders bombed Krupp's armament factory at Essen, where a vivid explosion broke out after the bombing. Attacks an aerodromes were widespread, a total of 13 being bombed in the night's operations. Raid on Berlin The sirens aroused Berliners from their sleep early this morning. They were forced to remain in the shelters 72 minutes. The raiders concentrated on the north-west industrial area, where the explosions were continuous. A Bucharest message says that travellers from Leipzig report that the German railways are seriously disorganised as a result of the British bombing. They were forced to change trains 15 times between Leipzig and Vienna. They admitted that troop trains were holding up the traffic, but. the line had been badly bombed in several places. It is reported that the railways in Western Germany are more severely dislocated.