THRILLS IN THE AIR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21199, 23 August 1940, Page 6

THRILLS IN THE AIR

SEVERE ICE CONDITIONS STORM ENCOUNTERED MILITARY OBJECTIVES HIT ; United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 23, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 22 [ Icy coldness and snow were en - | countered by the crews of some ; Royal Air Force aircraft which | bombed key centres of the German oil industry on Wednesday night. I At only a few thousand feet severe i icing conditions were met with and | the pilots had to descend to 2000 | feet. i Fifteen miles east of Magdeburg one of the raiders ran into a heavy | storm. Snow penetrated into the ; cockpit and formed a layer about | two inches deep over the side panels. The pilot’s flying-suit was also coated with snow. At Hanover much the same conditions were encountered, yet, as at the other target, the Royal Air Force aircraft persisted in their attack. A pilot dropped a stick of heavy bombs and incendiary bombs from east to west across a refinery, but clouds closed in again and he could not see what happened after that. As well as important oil refineries the Royal Air Force bombed on Wednesday a seaplane base on the island of Texel and a number of enemyoccupied aerodromes. One aircraft, appearing unexpectedly over De Kooy, in North Holland. surprised the ground staff. The pilot first dropped a number of heavy bombs, which struck and set on fire a large hangar. This was followed by a salvo of lighter bombs, which sent the ground personnel dashing for shelter. Greeted With Heavy Fire At midday a second aircraft raided De Koov, and though greeted with heavy fire the pilot unloaded his bombs and returned without damage to his machine. At Bennes, in Britanny, a hangar was hit and left with smoke and showers of sparks coming from it. The Steene aerodrome at Ostend was also struck by high explosives.