Dramatic never-before-seen pics reveal WWII bombing raids on factories in Germany and Nazi-occupied Netherlands from pilot’s perspective

DRAMATIC photos showing a series of heart-pounding World War Two bombing raids from the pilot’s perspective have come to light.

They were taken from Blenheim bombers undertaking attacks on targets in Germany and Nazi-occupied Netherlands in 1941.

Several capture the immediate aftermath of a direct hit, with flames and clouds of smoke signifying they had achieved their aim.

The album shows raids on the iron and steel works at IJmuiden port, in north Holland, and the Heinkel factory in Rostock, on the north German coast.

Other images document attacks on the important cities of Hamburg, Augsburg and Bremen as the Allies tried to wrestle back the initiative from Germany in World War Two.

Wilton’s shipyard in Rotterdam can be seen to have taken a direct hit, with a German ship west of The Hague enduring the same fate.

The album, which contains almost 100 photos, has emerged for sale with Toovey’s Auctions, of Washington, west Sussex.

BOMBER COMMAND

It was bought into the auction house by a local vendor who has had it for several generations, although it is not known if there was a family connection to Bomber Command.

Mark Stonard, valuer at Toovey’s, said: “A local vendor bought in the album over the counter and it had passed through several generations.

“It documents a great number of targets including shipping, docks and inland.

“The photos take you as close as you can get to the action, with the optics you feel you are in the front of the cockpit.

“It is remarkable how low they got when they were dive bombing. It is really dramatic.”

The men of Bomber Command risked their lives every time they left their airbases to carry out raids on enemy targets.

Overall, 55,000 out of 125,000 aircrew were killed during the conflict, a staggering death rate of 44.6 per cent.

The sale of the album, which is expected to fetch £50, takes place on Thursday.