DUISBURG AGAIN HEAVILY HIT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 245, 16 October 1944, Page 5

DUISBURG AGAIN HEAVILY HIT

5000 Tons Dropped

HEAVY BLOWS ALSO ON OTHER GERMAN CITIES

(British Official Wireless.—Rec. 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 15. The burning German city of Duisburg, 35 miles east of the German frontier, took another tremendous hammering last night, following a record daylight attack yesterday. "R.A.F. Bomber Command dispatched over 1500 aircraft," the Air Ministry states. "The inland port and railway and industrial centre of Duisburg was again the main objective. The fires started yesterday morning were still burning, and by the end of the second attack huge areas of fire were observed. More than 5000 tons of high explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped. "Almost at the same time a heavy concentrated attack was made on Brunswick, a centre of the enemy's aircraft and engineering industries in North-western Germany. Objectives in Berlin, Hamburg and Mannheim were also bombed. Night fighters, supported by bombers, attacked airfields well behind the enemy's lines. At least two enemy aircraft were destroyed. From all operations nine of our aircraft are missing."

In 18 hours R.A.F. Bomber Command dispatched more than 2600 aircraft, the Air Ministry further states. At least 2000 aircraft bombed Duisburg, and these planes dropped more than 10.000 tons of bcmbs, including 500,000 incendiaries. No city has ever had such a heavy load of bombs dropped on it in so short a time as Duisburg, and when the bombardment came to an end about 3.30 this morning the place was on fire from end to end. Duisburg had become of such vital importance to the German armies in the West that it was essential to make its destruction even more complete than might ordinarily have been necessary in the strategic bombing of the industrial area. Duisburg, too, is very scattered, the town being dispersed over an area of some 45 square miles. Because of its inland port—the largest in Europe—and its huge network of railways, it had become an advanced base of the utmost importance. . In 25 minutes, during the earlier attack yesterday morning, more than 1000 Lancaster and Halifaxes sent down 4500 tons of bombs on railways, docks and factories in and around the city of Duisburg. It was the greatest assault yet delivered on any of the German cities by day or night. The heavy bombers were covered by more than 300 Spitfires and Mustangs. The targets were all heavily bombed and very large fires left burning. There was some cloud over the target, but the objectives were -visually identified. High-explosive and incendiary bombs were used. Very few fighters interfered, but the ground defences were very active. Fourteen bombers are missing. Since the beginning of the war the Bomber Command has dropped nearly 12,500 tons of bombs on Duisburg. :