HEAVY POUNDING OF KIEL AND ANTWERP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1943, Page 3

HEAVY POUNDING OF KIEL AND ANTWERP

NAZI BASE AND PORT

Huge Fires And Widespread Destruction Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, April 5. Bomber Command planes in great strength last night attacked the naval base and shipbuilding yards at Kiel, in north-west Germany, states an Air Ministry communique. Heavy cloud made full observation of results impossible, but several large fires were seen in the target area. Twelve of our bombers are missing. Berlin radio admits that British bombers dropped high-explosive and incendiary bombs on the north coast of Germany last night, but claims that only slight damage was caused. Zero hour was 11 p.m., and soon afterwards a bank of cloud over Kiel began glowing with reflected light from the flares dropped by the first arrivals. A few minutes later the glow deepened and changed to red as Kiel's buildings started burning. The pilot of a Lancaster dived down through the clouds and found big fires blazing over a large area. There were big explosions below, he said, and- all the clouds about were lit up by a bright red glow which lasted two or three seconds. The pilot of a Stirling, who did not make his bombing run until towards the end of the attack, said that the clouds were glowing with a steady and unchanging red when he arrived. "After bombing," he said, "we turned for home, and I suppose must have done about 40 miles, when my rear gunner shouted out that he had just seen a big explosion.in the target area." Americans Raid Antwerp It is officially announced that a large force of Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the United States Eighth Air Force attacked Germanheld industrial targets in Antwerp in daylight to-day. Weather over the target was clear and good bombing results were achieved. Fighter opposition was heavy, and many combats ensued, the bombers destroying a number of enemy aircraft. Squadrons of R.A.F., Dominion and Allied fighters supported and covered the bombers. They had several engagements with enemy fighters, two of which were destroyed. Four bombers and one fighter are missing. The British Air Ministry communique reports slight enemy activity on some coastal districts in England last night. No bombs were dropped.