HEAVY BOMBING

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21480, 23 July 1941, Page 5

HEAVY BOMBING

RAIDS ON GERMANY FIRES AND DEVASTATION “PEACH OF A TARGET” {Official Wireless) (Received July 23, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 22 An Air Ministry communique states: Last night the Royal Air Force offensive against Western Germany was centred on Frankfurt and Mannheim. Industrial targets and communications in both cities were heavily bombed. Smaller forces of aircraft of the Bomber Command attacked the docks at Cherbourg and Ostend. Aircraft of the Fighter Command, on a night offensive patrol, attacked aerodromes in Northern France. Early this morning Coastal Command aircraft bombed a German military camp and other objectives on the western coast of Denmark. A fuller description of the attack on a German military camp in Denmark is given by the Air Ministry, which states: The camp was enveloped in smoke and flames after it was bombed before breakfast today. Pilot’s Thrilling Story A sergeant-pilot said: “The country over which we were patrolling seemed perfectly innocent, but in the growing light I saw what seemed to be the outline of a building. I went down low to investigate and discovered a skilfully-concealed camp. It was a peach of a target in the rays of the rising sun. “I let go a stick of bombs and saw them burst and debris shot up all over the place. Then flames appeared and spread until there was a large fire blazing. When we were several miles away I looked back and saw the fire still burning brightly.” During the operations over Northern France today the shipbuilding yards at Le Trait were bombed. Four enemy fighters were destroyed. Three of our fighters are missing. One British sergeant-pilot took on five Messerschmitts single-handed. One enemy fighter blew up, another burst into flames, and the remainder turned tail, after which the British pilot rejoined his squadron for breakfast. “The force of the explosion when the first Messerschmitt blew up,” said the sergeant, “was so great that my aircraft, 150 yards away, rocked like a dinghy in a storm.” Dr. Ley, chief of the German Labour Front, is inspecting areas which recently have been heavily bombed, such as Cologne, Hanover, Aachen and other towns. j ! :