ENEMY BASES BATTERED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21644, 3 May 1940, Page 7

ENEMY BASES BATTERED

STRONG RAIDS BY R A. F.

Intense Fighter Activity

British Official Wireless

RUGBY, May 1

"Large concentrations of enemy aircraft were reported yesterday at air bases in Norway and Denmark and extensive attacks were therefore launched by strong forces of R.A.F. bomber aircraft last night on the aerodromes at Stavanger, Fornebu, near Oslo, and Aalborg, in Denmark.” states an announcement by The Air Ministry.

“The attacks were pressed home in the face of strong opposition from anti-aircraft guns and fighters. Reports indicate that heavy damage was done on the aerodromes and on the aircraft assembled there. Casualties were also inflicted on enemy fighters. At least three are known to have been shot down. Seven of our aircraft were lost during these operations. Further attacks were carried out this morning.” The night attacks on Fornebu, near Oslo, and Aalborg in occupied Denmark. resulted in these aerodromes being badly damaged. One of the strongest forces yet engaged in single night's operations took part in these three raids.

When the R.A.F. again raided Stavanger this morning no German fighters were encountered. The damage done in the previous raid was visible. Further hits were made on the landing ground.

The raids by the Royal Air Force Bomber Command on Stavanger began on Tuesday afternoon and continued into the early hours of this morning. For the latest raid there was perfect

weather, with a visibility of 50 miles. The aerodrome was attacked with large numbers of high explosive bombs, and bursts of smoke and flame recorded a series of hits on the landing ground. All the British aircraft engaged in this daylight raid returned safely to their bases. When the advance guard of the British raiding force reached Stavanger late on Tuesday afternoon, large numbers of enemy aircraft on the ground were attacked with high explosive and incendiary bombs, which burst within the target area. Stavanger Defences Battered Meanwhile enemy fighters had taken o", and In a series of running fights one Messerschmitt 109 was shot down by the rear gunner of a Blenheim, who. afcter fifing a short burst, saw his victim turn to port, fall off in a spin and crash head on in the sea. Following soon after the first raid came another and still stronger force of bombers. Approaching in a shallow dive, the British bombers launched their attack from different directions, battering the ground defences and registering hits on all parts of the aerodrome. Salvoes of high explosive bombs were seen to straddle the principal runways and explode in a line from the centre to the north-west boundary. Other heavy bombs burst parallel with the runway and alongside the landing ground close to enemy aircraft.

The fighter opposition was intense, and on leaving two British aircraft were pursued and vigorously engaged by four Messerschmitt 109 and 110 fighters. A Messerschmitt 109, closing In on the rearmost bomber, was seen to burst into flames and crash into the sea. A minute later the British bomber came under concentrated fire by several attackers and was forced down into the water. Two other British bombers were also engaged by two Messerschmitt 109 fighters. As the British formation dived from 2000 feet almost to sea level the tail gunners returned the fire, and after four short bursts one enemy aircraft burst into flames and crashed into the sea. its companion then breaking off the engagement. The third phase of the attack on Stavanger came after dark, when another force of bombers subjected the aerodrome to a series of raids that continued into the early hours of the morning. Strong opposition was encountered from the ground defences, but, employing varying tactics of apI meh, the aircraft succeeded In reaching their objective and inflicting still further damage on the air base. During the attacks on the Aalborg and Fornebu aerodromes during the night high explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped. A fire visible some 30 miles away was started by the first attack on Fornebu. Later aircraft arriving just before midnight were guided to their target as the fire burnt fiercely on the edge of the aerodrome and on the promontories east and south of it. Anti-aircraft guns attempted to screen the target with a barrage, but they could not hold off the attackers, who ran the gauntlet of the powerful defences and dropped bombs on the hangars and runways. One larg? hangar was hit and set on fire, and new fir-, were started which were still burning at the end of the raid.

The German High Command, in a communique, claims that eight British machines were brought down at Stavanger. It admits slight damage at Fornebu, where one British aeroplane was shot down.

The communique adds that a cruiser, a destroyer, and five transports wtre sunk by bombs at Namsos, and one heavy cruiser and five transports were seriously damaged.

According to a message received early this morning, the R.A.F. again heavily bombed Stavanger. Aalborg and Fornebu. All returned safely.