R.A.F. RAIDS BERLIN

Southland Times, Issue 24498, 28 July 1941, Page 5

R.A.F. RAIDS BERLIN

CENTRE OF CITY ATTACKED MOST POWERFUL BOMBS USED (8.0.W.) RUGBY, July 27. The Air Ministry states that the four-engined bombers, which raided Berlin last night, carried a full load, including some of the heaviest and most powerful bombs in Britain’s armoury. There was no doubt about where they had fallen as huge flashes were seen right in the centre of the city. The bombers circled round to find the exact position of their targets by the light of flares. “At first,” said one captain, “the antiaircraft gunners seemed to be trying to fox us, and gave no sign of their existence, but as soon as our bombs began to fall all the guns fired. It was no longer any use for them to pretend that Berlin was not just below us. “We had flown through storms and above clouds on the way out, but there was no cloud over Germany. We passed through two vast belts of searchlights before we reached Berlin. They looked brighter than ever on so dark a night, and so did the flashes of our bombs in the centre of the city.” OTHER TOWNS ATTACKED An Air Ministry communique states: On Friday night the Royal Air Force offensive was mainly concentrated on Hanover and Hamburg, where factories, docks and communications were heavily bombed. A small force of four-engined bombers attacked objectives in Berlin. Aircraft of the Fighter Command carried out further attacks on enemy aerodromes in Northern France during the night. Nine of our bombers are missing. OFFENSIVE PATROLS An Air Ministry communique states: In the course of reconnaissance by aircraft of the Bomber Command on Saturday morning bombs were dropped on the Port of Emden. Our fighters have carried out offensive patrols along the French coast. An enemy patrol vessel off Boulogne was attacked with cannon and machine gun fire. One enemy fighter was shot down. None of our aircraft is missing from these operations. No enemy aircraft crossed the British coast today, states an official communique issued on Saturday evening. LUFTWAFFE UNEASY One of the signs by which the world knows the Luftwaffe command is conscious of receiving severe punishment is the publication of claims to have destroyed vast numbers of British aircraft. This symptom of extreme uneasiness first became apparent during the battle for Britain, when the Nazis used to publish figures which were almost exactly the reverse of the facts. In a greater or lesser degree the same tendency has been manifest in the intervening months and became more noticeable as the weight of the Royal Air Force attack has increased. Thus on Wednesday the Germans claimed 54 Royal Air Force machines brought down over the Channel, a number which was increased by 10 last night. Actually the Royal Air Force lost 15 aircraft in Wednesday’s engagements, 10 fighters and five bombers. Yesterday’s magnificently successful result has brought similar claims which are being published before the Royal Air Force announcement revealing the actual losses and will doubtless later be increased. According to the Nazis 32 Royal Air Force aircraft were brought down between Calais and La Rok. In fact, British losses were 22, 15 bombers and seven fighters. Thirtythree Nazi machines were destroyed apart from the very considerable damage inflicted by bombing.