THOUSAND BOMBERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 140, 24 March 1944, Page 3

THOUSAND BOMBERS

FRANKFURT MAIN OBJECTIVE. OVER 3000 TONS OF MISSILES BERLIN ALSO ATTACKED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Mar. 23. Lancasters and Hhlifaxes dropped more than 3000 tons of highexplosives and incendiaries on Frankfurt fast night. More than 1000 aircraft were despatched. Mosquitos attacked objectives in Berlin and Western Germany. Many mines were laid in enemy waters. Thirty-three of our aircraft were missing after the raid.

Crews who took part could see the glow of fires when they were within a few miles of the enemy coast and Mosquito crews, who were over the target for more than an hour after the last of the heavy bombers had left reported that the fires were out of control and that huge conflagrations had spread over the target area.

Mosquitos dropped 4000-pounders, which they have recently been carrying.

It may be that as Berlin had been attacked by American bombers in daylight some hours earlier the enemy’s fighter packs were led astray.

Mosquito crews who attacked Berlin reported lanes of fighter flares leading into the capital, but very few Avere seen on the way to Frankfurt or over the target itself. There were some combats —one Halifax was attacked six times before it reached Frankfurt and shot, down a Messersehmitt 109. But generally the fighter opposition was weak.

As the fighters did not begin to reach Frankfurt until after zero hour, which was just after 9.45 p.m., the main defence of the city had to be left to guns and searchlights. The anti-aircraft fire was intense and the

whole city was ringed with searchlights in a continuous belt after the bombing started.

The fires got. a good hold while the main force was still over the target and a thick pall of black smoke rose well above the cloudtops. Several exceptional explosions were reported, the flame of one shooting up about 3000 feet.

Some 30 key war factories comprise the industrial importance of Frankfurt. Besides being a most important centre of the chemical industry in Germany its factories produce military transport, aircraft components, instruments for aircraft and motor vehicles, detonating apparatus-for naval mines and precision instruments for small arms ammunition. There are also large grain stores, flour mills and oil storage plants. Frankfurt is a vital railway junction and an important canal link.

A reconnaissance pilot who was over the city at eleven this morning reported that large fires were still burning in the centre of the target and that smoke rose up to 15,000 feet. Mosquitos over Berlin saw fires still burning hours after the heavy American attack the day before.

Beaufighters of the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force of the Coastal Command attacked two small enemy ships off the Norwegian coast. One ship was left on fire. One aircraft is missing.

Allied bombers were out in strength again to-day and strong formations crossed the coast in the direction of the Continent.

United States Headquarters states (hat strong forces of Liberators and Flying Fortresses of the United States Bth Air Force to-day attacked targets in North-west Germany, including the bomber base of Hadnore and the Luftwaffe station at Achmer and a large aircraft part works elsewhere. Bombs were also dropped on the Brunswick district and elsewhere. Fighters in very great strength provided escort support.

Early this afternoon aircraft of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force attacked enemy targets in Northern France, the railway centre at Creil and two airfields in Northern France being bombed. —British Official Wireless.