HANOVER BLASTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 37, 13 February 1941, Page 5

HANOVER BLASTED

HEAVY R.A.F. RAID ATTACKS ON NORTH-WEST GERMANY DAYLIGHT SWEEP OVER THE CHANNEL [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Feb. 11. A heavy, concentrated, and very successful attack on Hanover and other targets In northwest Germany and occupied territories is described in an Air Ministry communique, which says:— “A very heavy attack was made last night on the industrial area of Hanover by Bomber Command aircraft. Of the force employed in this operation, more than 90 per cent, reached their objectives.

’.The attack, which lasted six hours, was carried out in weather which was por at first but steadily improved as the night advanced. “In the opening stages fires were started north, south and west of the target area. These showed the later arrivals where to drop their heavycalibre high-explosive bombs. By the time the last of our aircraft had left, fires too numerous to be counted were raging throughout the bombed area. "Another smaller force attacked the oil installations and the docks at Rotterdam. Large fires and explosions were caused. "Several other targets in northwest Germany and two aerodromes in Holland were also visited. "In addition, aircraft of the same command successfully attacked Boulogne harbour, which had been previously bombed in daylight. Coastal Command aircraft bombed Cherbourg and Ostend, where large fires broke out.

“From all these operations four of our aircraft are missing.” An Air Ministry communique says that three sweeps were carried out by the R.A.F. on Boulogne, Dunkirk and Calais, when two enemy aircraft were destroyed. The sweeps were carried out in daylight, although not on a large scale. Reports show that bombing of docks and shipping was most effective. Little fighter opposition was encountered, but in the attack on Calais there was a considerable amount of anti-aircraft fire. Three R.A.F. fighters are missing. The R.A.F. raid on north-west Germany last night coincided with one of the longest periods of radio silence of many German wireless stations. The majority went off the air at 8 p.m., but radio stations in eastern and south-eastern Germany continued until the early hours of this morning. ITALIAN STORY LONDON, Feb. 11. The Stefani (Italian) news agency, commenting on the attempt of the R.A.F. to reach Berlin, states that bombs were dropped all over the place, but failed to hit military objectives. A German communique reports that the R.A.F. bombed nine localities in North Germany, including Hanover. Civilians were killed and wounded.