BRILLIANT SUCCESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1941, Page 5

BRILLIANT SUCCESS

IN R.A.F. DAY & NIGHT OFFENSIVE INCREASING HAVOC IN GERMANY BOMBS OF TREMENDOUS POWER USED. NAZIS RAID SOUTHAMPTON. LONDON. July 8. The R.A.F. coni impel its great offensive against Germany today with brilliant success, destroying sixteen enemy fighters in the course of two daylight sweeps on vital points of the enemy war machine in Nori hern France. In the first sweep nine enemy fighters were shot down when attempting to ■at tack . our heavy bombers, which raided a power stat ion and ('hemical works at Lille. Seven of our fighters are missing.

The other raid was at dawn today, when a synthetic oil plant was attacked. Enemy fighters made repeated attempts to attack the British bombers, but failed to get one. Seven enemy fighters were shot down. We lost five fighters, but two pilots were saved. One of our bombers did not return, but it fell to anti-aircraft gun-fire. These attacks followed on a heavy raid on Western Germany last night, when British bombers laid in ruins areas in five cities, including Cologne, Osnabruck, Frankfurt-on-Main, Munster and another place. Smaller forces raided Western German industrial areas and communications at many points. At Cologne new British bombs exploded in the industrial centre of the city and the pilots were amazed at the tremendous effects. Immense fires broke out on both sides of the river and a pall of black smoke hung over the city. At Osnabruck a pilot said the sky was busy with our bombers. In Munster, which was raided for the third night in succession, parts of the city which had not previously been dealt with were left in flames. Nine of our bombers were lost in the night’s operations. One enemy plane was shot down and another’ damaged at the Isle of Wight today. Five enemy bombers were brought down last night, when Southampton had a sharp attack but it is not ex-( pected that the casualties will prove to be heavy. FIVE RAIDERS DESTROYED IN ATTACK ON SOUTHAMPTON. DAMAGE DONE & SOME PEOPLE KILLED. LONDON. July 8. Five German aircraft were destroyed in raids over Britain last night. Southampton was the main objective, and was subjected to a sharp attack. Substantial damage was done and fires were started, but they were quickly brought under control. The number of casualties is not likely to be heavy, but a few people were killed. A few bombs were dropped in the south and south-east of England causing damage at a number of points and some casualties. QUICK DISASTER MET BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT. OVER ISLE OF WIGHT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, July 8. An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: “At midday today, two enemy aircraft approached the Isle of Wight. They were engaged by our fighters and one enemy aircraft was destroyed and the other damaged. Apart from this there is nothing to report.” OIL PLANT BOMBED BURSTS SEEN ACROSS TARGET. PLACE LEFT IN FLAMES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, July 8. An Air Ministry communique states: “This morning heavy bombers successfully attacked a synthetic oil plant between Lens and Bethune. Bursts were seen across the target and the oil plant and a gasholder were left in flames. Seven enemy fighters were destroyed in the course of these operations. Our losses were five fighters and one bomber. Two of the fighter pilots are safe.”