ROUND THE CLOCK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 1, 12 October 1943, Page 3

ROUND THE CLOCK.

THE BOMBING OF GERMANY. HEAVY TOLL ON LUFTWAFFE. LONDON, Oct. 10. The destruction of more than 400 German fighters during the last eight days is claimed by the crews of the heavy bombers which have been raiding over Germany. American air crews claimed most of this total. During today Fortresses were over Germany again, and the crews claimed the destruction of another 102 of the enemy. In the 48 hours beginning on Friday, the Americans claimed to have shot down 250 German fighters. The targets, for heavy bombers only in the last four days have been: Thursday—Royal Air Force over Stuttgart. *

Friday—American bombers over Bremen and Vegesack, Royal Air Force over Bremen and Hanover.

Saturday—American bombers over Gydnia, Danzig, Marienburg, and Stettin.

Sunday.—American bombers over Muenster and Koesfeld. Since the Bomber Command’s bigraid on Hanover on Friday night the only Royal Air Force raids reported have been by Mosquitos. A feature of these raids has been the success of the Mosquito squadrons in avoiding losses.

To-day American heavy bombers were over western Germany in daylight for the third successive day. Fortresses raided Muenster and Koesfeld, and shot down 81 fighters. Escorting Thunderbolts accounted for 21. The Americans lost 30 Fortresses and two Thunderbolts.

The raid on Muenster was one of the biggest air blows since the outbreak of the war, says a British United Press correspondent with the Bth Air Force. One pilot said: “I don’t think we need hit Muenster again.” * Purpose of the Offensive. “Before Hitler can be crushed like Mussolini, the American land and sea forces must join the British in pushing across the English Channel and the North Sea,” said Major-General Sir Ira C. Eaker, Commander of the Bth United States Air Force in a broadcast. “The big push into Germany, when it comes, will cost lives just as the Salerno landings did,” he said. “It is the task of the- Bth United States Air Force to destroy factories, transport, and German weapons, so that our invasion casualties will be cut down. That is our stern assignment this winter. We shall not shirk it. “We sent over 4000 fighting men against German industrial targets on Friday and again on Saturday,” said Major-General Eaker. “Those 4000 fought through the- German defences to destroy vital Nazi plane factories. We have only reached another ‘end of the beginning’ like the Bth Army’s early victories in Africa) The victories of the American Bth Air Force mark only a turning of the- tide.” Important units of the German fleet, including the battleships Gniesnau and the battle- cruisers, Lutzow and Admiral Scheer, the heavy cruiser Prince Eugen, and the cruisers, Nurnburg and Leipzig are believed to have been anchored at Gdynia. Pilots say that the- smokescreen was the thickest they had ever encountered. Scores of armour-piercing bombs were dropped. The Germans sent up strong forces of fighters and attempted to cover Muenster and Koesfeld. Smokescreens were unsuccessful, as the wind was fairly strong and the bombardiers were able to see their bombs fall directly on the targets. Muenster and Koesfeld are both important railway supply bases for the Russian front.