BOMB DAMAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24634, 16 June 1941, Page 5

BOMB DAMAGE

BRITISH OFFENSIVES ATTACKS ON THE RUHR FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS RUGBY, June 13. Further details of last, night's air activity over the Ruhr are given by the Air Ministry news service. They show that the attack started soon after dark. Aircraft of the' Bomber Command were out in great force over the comparatively small area in which German industries are most thickly concentrated. Wave after wave of British aircraft swept over the Ruhr, olten coming down through the clouds and dropping flares to light up the ground below. Several aircraft bombed from so low that the crew distinctly felt the concussion of the heavier bombs. Buildings were silhouetted against walls of fire, warehouses could be seen completely gutted, and the whole area was often lit by flames. At one railway yard the dropping of a bomb was followed by a succession of explosions in line, one after another, over a period ci 10 minutes, as though a store of ammunition had beer. hit. * A typical experience of the night is described by- one rear-gunner: "We made four runs aver the target before dropping bombs. Meanwhile we saw a terrific explosion, and knew another aircraft already made an attack It must have been an immense bomb;

it was rather like the effect you get' when you throw a rock into a pool—everything splashed up all round We. then saw black smoke hundreds of feet in the air." Over another target there was methodical search by many aircraft, whose flares dropped in" a continuous rain. There, as an observer said, " never fewer than three were in the sky at once, usually many more." German night fighters were 'about, and there were many conclusive engagements. Over Holland a fighter came straight out of the moon towards one of our bombers. The rear-gunner held his fire till the enemy was close and then at 100 yards gave a long burst. Immediately flames spurted from the fighter, which went at once into a dive.

WIDESPREAD TARGETS ENEMY CONVOY ATTACKED " A RUGBY, June 14. The destruction of at least 17 enemy aircraft—ll of them during raids on Malta—were recorded in a Royal Air Force Middle East ..communique on Friday night, which states that whsi a strong formation of enemy aircraft approached Malta yesterday morning they were intercepted by Royal Air Force fighters. In the engagement which ensued five enemy aircraft were shot down. Later in the day our fighters again intercepted an'enemy force. A floatplane was shot down in flames, and four enemy fighters were destroyed. In the evening another enemy floatplane was destroyed south of Sicily. In these engagements three of our fighters were lost, but two of the pilots were rescued.

Tn the Central Mediterranean, Royal Air Force bombers attacked a convoy of merchant ships escorted by destroyers and auxiliaries. A number of direct hits were made on a merchant vessel of 7000 tons, causing a large fire, from which columns of smoke ascended. The vessel was reported to be a total loss. While returning to its base, one of our aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter, which was severely damaged. Another Raid on Benghazi

The harbour of Benghazi was again successfully bombed .on the ' night of• June 11-12. Hits were made on several ships in ttye harbour, and two were set on fire, one being left burning from stem to stern. During' the same night the aerodrome at Gazala was bombed and machine-gunned, and a number of fires were started.

In Syria the RoyaJ Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force continued to give full support to the operations of our bombe„r forces, and lighters continuously patrolled over our naval units' operations off the coast. Motor transport arid gun positions were bombed and -machinegunned. This afternoon three Junkers 88 were shot down in the sea and others damaged by the Royal Australian Air Force off the Syrian coast. Either eight or nine Junkers 88, which had Italian markings, were about to attack our naval forces three miles west of Sidon when a number of fighters of the Royal Australian Air Force intervened.

Four of -4. he Junkers 88 dived and dropped their bombs, but the remainder jettisoned their loads and retired as fast as they could. The Australians attacked the enemy, and three Junkers were definitely destroyed, as they were seen falling into the sea. Others were seriously damaged, one flying away with the wing tip burned. The Australians suffered neither damage nor casualties.

The aerodrome at Calato, on the island of Rhodes, was bombed on the night of June 11-12. One large petrol fire was started, and there were a number of other fires among dispersed aircraft.

In addition to the fighters already referred to, one other of our aircraft is missing.

ENEMY ACTIVITY NOT ON HEAVY SCALE (Rec. 8 p.m.) RUGBY, June 14. An official communique states that enemy activity last night was mainly over the coast of the south-east and east of England. It was not on a heavy scale. Fro mreports so tar received some damage was done, but the number of casualties was not large. One enemy fighter was shot down over the Channel by English fighters this morning.