MANY TARGETS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21820, 25 November 1940, Page 5

MANY TARGETS

Enemy Factories And Ports Bombed By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 24, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 23. Aerodromes, factories, goods yards and ports were amongst the targets bombed by the Royal Air Force yesterday and during the night. Reporting on activities an Air Ministry communique states: Yesterday aircraft of the Bomber Command made daylight attacks on enemy aerodromes at Schipol and Leeuwarden, among other targets. They also bombed a factory in Solingen in ”’ihr. Last night a determined attack was made on the aerodrome of Merignac, near Bordeaux, the base from which the enemy launches attacks on our Atlantic shipping. One of our aircraft is missing. The raiders of Merignac had the assistance of excellent weather conditions and a half-moon shone from a cloudless sky while the Bomber Command machines accomplished their 1000 miles return journey. After the first attack the moon ceased to be of much assistance as the fires then started provided adequate illumination for the following aircraft, the pilot of one of whom was able to pick up the glow of the fires while still 100 miles away. During a persistent and successful raid which reached its highest intensity about 4 a.m.. ”'iich damage was done to hangars, aircraft and barracks, one pilot saying, “We must have left the place in a hideous mess.” Amongst the targets in Germany which was bombed was the inland port of Duisburg-Ruhrort, which already suffered heavily two nights ago and Krupps’ synthetic oil works at Wanne Eickel, where an attack in force took place. Attack on Stavanger “Coastal Command Hudsons heavily attacked Stavanger aerodrome early on Friday states an Air Ministry communique, The first aircraft scattered incendiaries over the aerodrome and buildings, and the following aircraft added greatly to the destruction with a variety of bombs. Lines of fire were started from some of which blue flames shot up to a considerable height after staccato explosions. The targets were still burning nearly an hour after the bombing ended.” Describing the raid on the Stavanger aerodrome, the squadron commander who led the attack said: “It was as slick and effective a raid as I can ever hope to be in.” Bad weather conditions caused ail last night’s Royal Air Force bomber operations to be cancelled.