300 ’PLANES OVER BERLIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22064, 10 September 1941, Page 5

300 ’PLANES OVER BERLIN

RECORD BOMB LOAD Colossal Damage By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 8. More than 300 heavy bombers carrying the biggest load of bombs ever to leave Britain took part in last night's raid on Berlin, reports the aeronautical correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” The Royal Air Force has completed plans for even heavier raids against the principal German cities as the nights lengthen. It is estimated that more than 300 tons of high explosive bombs were dropped on Berlin causing colossal damage. Considering the bright moonlight our losses were not excessive in proportion to the number of ’planes engaged. It was one of the Royal Air Force’s biggest nights. Probably more than 400 ’planes were over Germany. The Germans sent about 250 bombers against London in the last big raid on May 10.

For two hours wave after wave of four-engined Stirling and Halifax bombers crossed and recrossed the city showering it with high explosive and incendiary bombs. One particularly fierce blaze spread right across the heart of the city. The attack was pressed home in the teeth of a terrific anti-aircraft fire, which only slackened at intervals to allow more German fighters to go up

in attempts to intercept the British raiders. Four of these night fighters were destroyed. Twenty British bombers were lost.

The German newspapers have been allowed to spread themselves in protest against the raid Instead of merely giving it a brief reference. They threaten reprisals. One newspaper, referring to “this' new criminal attempt by the British” states that Germany will reply. Another states: “This criminal act will be avenged.”

Berlin has now been raided four times in the past eight nights, twice by the Royal Air Force, and twice by the Russian Air Force.

The raid caused an angry outburst in the Berlin press, which denounces the raid as “a loutish trick and crime.”

The "Nachtausgabe” says: “The raid was one of the rottenest and most disgusting yet made on Berlin. These shameful acts will be avenged. The German sword will strike with fearful sharpness until Britain is forced to her knees.”

All the afternoon papers publish at least a column dealing with the raid. They emphasise the exemplary discipline of the population and the care devoted to the victims.

The Germans News Agency stated that 27 civilians were killed in the raid. It is announced in Berlin that 3853 persons have been killed in air raids in Germany to September 2. Besides Berlin, the shipyards at Kiel and the docks at Boulogne were smashed. A fire that was started in Boulogne during the night could still be seen smouldering in broad daylight from the British side of the Channel to-day.

The first bombers taking part in the great raid on Berlin arrived just before midnight, and the last did not leave until well into the small hours. When they reached the city, states the Air Ministry news service, the lakes round the western part of the city were shining in the moonlight and by familial landmarks our crews found their way to the centre. Railway Station Hit “We could see the place like a map,” a flight-sergeant said, “and soon there were many fires, with one big one in particular, blazing fiercely in the heart of the city as a further guide to the bombers.” A great many heavy high-explosive bombs were seen to burst round a main railway station. Volumes of black smoke poured upwards and on the return journey it was long before the crews saw the last glow of the many fires in the east.

Berlin’s defences were ready for the attack, and the crews of the British raiders knew what to expect. Scores of searchlights swept the skies and pursued the invading bombers. The anti-aircraft fire was incessant and only stopped to let night fighters approach. “We were clamped in large beams of searchlights," a gunner said, “and Jerry was lumping up anti-aircraft fire as hard as he could. All of a sudden the anti-aircraft fire stopped and I saw a Messerschmitt 110 coming up on the starboard quarter. I gave it a burst and saw my tracer enter the starboard engine. The Messerschmitt caught fire and crashed down. It passed us so close that I thought it was going to hit us.” Chain of Fires at Boulogne Kiel and Boulogne were also attacked last night and American-built Havocs raided enemy aerodromes in occupied territory. A great chain of fires, still visible this morning from Folkestone, 26 miles away, raged in the Boulogne area after a bombardment lasting an hour and a half. Royal Air Force fighters were active over enemy air bases during the night. American built Havocs attacked aero-

dromes from Holland to Brittany. The crew of a Havoc which went to Holland saw a raider in the act of taking off the ground. The pilot was able to drop small bombs and incendiaries right in front of the German as he taxied along the runway. The explosions threw the German machine into the air and set it on fire. Other incendiaries started another big fire at one side of the aerodrome. A Polish crew started another big fire on an important aerodrome in Brittany. On another French aerodrome bombs started seven bright fires, which were visible 25 miles away. Two Havocs went to an aerodrome near Seville. The first to arrive started several fires, which were still burning when a second British crew came in to attack and dropped more bombs on the aerodrome.

Spitfire Destroys Ship

Off the Dutch coast a German antiaircraft ship was blown up by the pilot of a Spitfire. This pilot saw three of these enemy craft below him and dived down with his guns blazing. One of the vessels burst into flames. The British pilot believes that he hit the ship’s magazine with a cannon shell. These German anti-aircraft vessels are similar in size to large trawlers and they carry powerful anti-aircraft batteries in the bow and stern. One of the fighters engaged in these operations is missing. German long range guns shelled the Dover area for half an hour late last night, the first time for several weeks. Several houses were damaged. Two Fortresses Missing

After referring to the sinking of an anti-aircraft ship on Monday morning by a Royal Air Force fighter an Air Ministry communique states that on Monday afternoon Blenheims of the Bomber Command escorted by fighters attacked a number of small en my ships in the Channel. One ship was hit and another damaged. Two Fortress aircraft are missing from a formation which carried out a long distance reconnaissance flight to-day.