LEFT IN FLAMES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21184, 6 August 1940, Page 5

LEFT IN FLAMES

DAMAGE IN GERMANY OIL PLANT DESTROYED PLANES SHOT D0 yr (Official Wireless) (Received August 6. 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, August 5 An Air Ministry communique states:—Royal Air Force bombers last night attacked an oil plant at Sterkrade, in the Ruhr. Considerable damage was done to the target, which was left in flames. An attack was also made on the Krefeld aerodrome, where a hangar was hit and fires started among the aerodrome buildings. All our aircraft returned safely. An Air Ministry bulletin contains details of the attack on a synthetic oil plant at Sterkrade. Raiders were over the works for several hours and dropped fourteen tons of high explosive bombs, as well as incendiaries, which set alight to oil flaring from the shattered storage tanks. Half-an-hour after the first onslaught the flames had obtained such a hold on the buildings that observers could note the progress as the bombs continued to fall. Green and blue flashes of the explosions were mingled with the red glow of the fires, which billowed clouds of smoke. Towards the end of the raid the fires were spreading rapidly. A bulletin also tells how three Blenheims patrolling the French coast yesterday were attacked by four Messerschmitts. The British pilots dived steeply in formation until they were just above the clouds. Their gunners were firing all the time and two Messerschmitts broke away, one heading back for the French coast low over the sea, apparently in flames. The other Messerschmitts continued the attack, but the Blenheims kept their formation intact and brought the concentrated fire of their rear guns to bear on one of the German fighters. It is believed that this Messerschmitt was also severely damaged. The Blenheims all landed safely and there were no casualties among the crews.