BOMBS ON BERLIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 210, 6 September 1940, Page 5

BOMBS ON BERLIN

MORE HEAVY RAIDS GERMANS’ TASTE OF WAR Received Sept. 5, 6.5 p.m, RUGBY, Sept. 4. Tuesday night’s R.A.F. raid on Berlin was the fifth on the German capital in nine days. Details became available late on Wednesday evening of how aircraft of the Bomber Command attacked a series of military objectives both there and in other parts of Germany. /X power station situated in the Berlin suburbs was repeatedly bombed in a series of shallow dive attacks, and though low clouds prevented detailed observation of the results, the flash of many bomb bursts was seen within the target area. Another power station was bombed from 7500 ft. When gasworks were struck by plosive bombs a large fire broke out accompanied by heavy clouds of smoke, Aircraft, of a second raiding force attacked an armament factory where the explosions of their bombs were followed soon afterwards by a large flash which lit up the low-lying clouds. Sticks of bombs were also dropped on the main line railway on the boundary of Berlin and on lines near the capital. Wooded arenas outside Berlin, including Gruenwald i Forest, were attacked shortly after midnight with high-explosive and incendiary bombs with the object of setting fire to an arms factory hidden beneath the trees there. Two large tires started in a wood north of the city could still be seen by the crews of one aircraft 15 minutes after they had left for home. In Gruenwald Forest one raider’s bombs caused two bright yellow explosions 150 yards apart. It was the third time tnis crew had raided Berlin. Great Forest Fire*. Press Association reports state that the Air Ministry announced that. R.A.F. bombers last night set fire to great tracts of pinewoods in northwest Germany. Many bomber crews

reported seeing large fires spreading through the forests to the accompaniment of vivid flashes and explosions. Many fires were started in the Black Forest and in Luneburg Heide, which is the Salisbury Plains of Germany, stretching between Hamburg and Hanover city, also the heavily wooded countryside outside Berlin.

An air expert described the exploit as a perfect mass bombing operation which may ha»ve a pronounced psychological effect on the German people. The Air Ministry communique, describing these raids, stated: “R.A.F. bombers attacked military objectives concealed in German forests in the Hartz mountains and in the Gruenwald forests north of Berlin. Many fires were started which later caused explosions.

"Other aircraft carried out reconnaissances over an area of the Black Forest east of Baden, where fires had been started by our bombers on the previous night. Many of these were still blazing. "Other forces of R.A.F. bombers attacked electric-power stations, lighting installations, and an armament factory in Berlin, oil storage tanks in Magdeburg, goods yards in Hamm and Schwerte, a blast furnace in Merzig, and several Dutch and German aerodromes. "Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm operating with the Coastal Command, attacked barge concentrations in the Beveland Canal at Terneuzen. in the mouth of the Scheldt. Forces of Coastal Command aircraft attacked docks at. Ostend. All our aircraft returned.” In Berlin informed circles claim that four or five British planes were brought down when approaching Berlin last night. Aircraft of the Coastal Command bombed supply ships at sea off the Dutch coast on Monday, and another supply ship in a Norwegian harbour on Sogne Fiord, and also forced down a Dornier flying-boat at sea. Attacks were made on oil tanks at Flushing and on the harbour of Ostend. One aircraft has not returned.”