A bulletin by the Ministry, states: "Bight RAP." Hurricane "Aghters patrolling the fighting zone in France Yesterday met 'a formation of 20 Heinkel 111 bombers and shot down six, Ten Messerschmitt 109 fighters which were escorting the enemy bombers, were unable to give them effective protection against the Huricane attack. 'One'. Messerschmitt was also shot down, Two Hurricane are missing."
Describing the bombing of all depots, at "Ghent, another bulletin says: "One cluster of tanks was already blazing fiercely when a second wave of bombers arrived.—Therefore, they placed their bombs other all reservoirs surrounded by fames.. When the following aircraft Found that these targets were already set on fire, they almed their bombs $0. as to widen the burning oreas—every. time successfully. So widispread and high were the flames from the all tanks that one pilot, in the last stage of the attack thought it to bbe waste of bombs to drop any more in the cauldron, a "The flames revealed five railway tines, two-of which were fled with covered waggons. The pilot_was able to abiain very precise results fon the unexpected targets, As the Wagons blew up, there was @_ succession of great explosions, There were explosions, followed by eruptions of black smoke, when another Sireraft made four hits on a further Section. of large of containers, The Pilot of another aircraft released all his bombs in a single salvo, setting at least two more all tanks on fire, He then flew low, machine-gunning other tanks, and set fire to escaping fuel with tracer bullets, adding 10 the scene of flaming ruin, From nightfall until shortly be. fore daybreak, heavy bombers of th Royal Air Force were almost, continuously in action against military objectives in Germany and the battle-Zone in northern France," reveals a third bulletin, "Enemy reinforcements moving up wards the line of the Somme offend sive were bombed and harassed by machine-gun fire, ammunition dumps were destroyed and lines of communication in many parts of back reas were cut by low-level bombing "Other sections of the raiding force penetrated German defences and at {ecked marshalling yards and railway Junetions at key-points between Rhenish Prussia and the Belgian frontier, setting goods trains on fire, blocking tunnels and disorganizing, rail trame.
"On the Somme front, Abbeville was heavily attacked soon after dark a section of heavy bombers. Two direct hits were scored on the main railway bridge, completely demolish ing one end of it. In a second raid on the town two hours later, high-explosive bombs were dropped, and one salvo apparently hit an amount tion store, for the burst was followed
the town and violently rocked the terra explosion which it up alreratt above it, "In an attack on a town eight miles! west of Abbeville, a railway and Toad-bridge over the Somme estuary were repeatedly hit, one salvo bursi~ ing' on top of an anti-aircraft battery which was defending the bridge. A Parachute flare dropped after the lacks showed that the northern span of the bridge had completely collapsed.
"Enemy troops and supply columns were attacked, a5" well as forests where enemy' forces sought cover. Bombs dropped on a column of heavy vehicles in the forest of Boulera struckea lorry with amraunition which blew up and set the wood ablaze. After a salvo of bombs dropped in Bois de Chimay, several explosions occurred as ammunition or. petrol Gumps went up in flames.
"Road and rail junctions from Amiens to Charleville in the south and to Valenciennes "in the north were attacked, Bight direct hits on railway junction at Charleville demolished the track of the main line 2hd warehouses and set petrol con: fainers. afte, The railway siding crowded with loaded goods waggons was left blazing.
"At Valenciennes, an all storage plant was bombed.' It exploded and flames of 500 feet were visible $0 miles away; black smoke 7,000 feet high covered the area within a fow minutes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.