THRILLING RAIDS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21513, 30 August 1941, Page 7

THRILLING RAIDS

ROTTERDAM BOMBED ATTACKS ON SHIPPING BRAVERY OF AIRMEN (Omclal Wireless) (Received August 30, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, August 29 With a fighter escort but against a deadly barrage from the port and from small warships at the mouth of the river, Blenheims which made yesterday’s daylight attack on Rotterdam flew over the docks at between fifty and twenty feet, states the Air Ministry News Service. They were met by a hail of light anti-aircraft shells and machine-gun bullets—there was even rifle fire from the ground—and some Messer - schmitts braved getting near the escort of Spitfires to pursue tne bombers.

One Messerschmitt 109 F engaged a Blenheim from dead astern and closed to 150 yards, but the Messerschmitt in turn was pursued by Spitfires and had to make a hasty escape.

The Blenheims attacked in line abreast. The pilot of the leading Blenheim describes how he glanced along the line and saw the attack begin at full strength. Two Blenheims made for a large ship at the south-west end of Maashaven. The first got a hit stern, and when the second had bombed its crew saw the ship entirely obscured by bursts of bombs.

Another Blenheim hit a large ship amidships. A fire broke out and the smoke which poured up was reddened by flames.

Many other ships were attacked both in the docks and in the slipways, where they were building. Tall columns of smoke rose from the shipyards. Bombs burst among cranes, wharf machinery and shops in the quaysides. Warehouses burst into flames and the fire quickly spread. Some Blenheims were hit even before they reached the docks, but they dodged their way through the anti-aircraft fire and sent bombs down. Very Low Swoops Aircraft which have not returned were seen to make successful attacks, though because of the nature of the assault, with the bombers flying low and dropping bombs fused to explode some seconds after the impact, more damage was certainly done than could be seen. One Blenheim was hit by antiaircraft fire in one of its engines and fell behind the formation. The pilot of another Blenheim saw this and kept company with the damaged bomber. Two Spitfires then joined up to make all safe. Photographs taken at the time of the attack show how low the Blenheims swooped over Rotterdam. They are proof of the courage with which the British crews drive home a dangerous assault against all defences which the enemy could muster to protect his shipping. Attacks Feared by Germans Road, railway and river communications were heavily attacked by aircraft of the Bomber Command last night, states the Air Ministry News Service. The German defences showed how much yet another attack on this centre is feared. Many British crews said that never before had they seen such anti-aircraft fire. Some bombers were caught in vast shafts of light. One crew saw their bombs lit up and gleaming white as they fell so that they looked like “huge deadly flakes of snow.”

Caught in such a concentration of searchlights a Stirling was shelled for fifteen minutes and then attacked by fighters until it dived down out of control. But at 500 feet and at the last moment the pilot got control again. He flew home all the way at that height and landed the damaged aircraft in England. The main force got through every barrier. There was no bad weather to defend Duisberg. On the way some bombeVs ran into storms of rain and snow, but it was clear over the Ruhr. Industrial Parts Hit The industrial part of Duisberg, the important railway yard and railway station, and the inland docks at Duisberg-Ruhrort were all vigorously attacked, with obvious immediate effect. On the way home it was long before the British crew lost sight of the great fires of Duisberg as one Whitley was re-crossing the Dutch coast the rear gunner saw an explosion in the direction of Duisberg one hundred miles away. The whole sky was lighted by the red glow. Planes Shot Down Ten enemy fighters were destroyed by British fighters during a series of offensives today. Ten of our fighters are missing but the pilot of one is safe. CHINESE OFFENSIVE ADMISSION BY JAPANESE (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. CopyrlarMj (Received August 30, 1 p.m.) SHANGHAI, August 29 The Japanese Army spokesman admitted that Marshal Chiang Kaishek’s forces opened an offensive on August 26 on a 150-miles front west of Shanghai, along the line south of Hangchow to Wuhu, on the Yangtse River. The spokesman asserted that all Chinese attacks have been repulsed. A Chinese Military Council communique today states: Japanese troops used gas against the Chinese in an offensive near Nanchang. It is said the Chinese armies in the Fukien, Chekiang, Kiangsi, Kiangsu and Anwhei provinces launched a general offensive on August 25 surprising the Japanese garrisons. The key cities in all five provinces are claimed by the Japanese to have been thrown into disorder. The Chinese recaptured four important cities.