HEAVY RAID ON NUREMBERG

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23883, 27 February 1943, Page 5

HEAVY RAID ON NUREMBERG

ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBERS GERMAN ADMISSION OF DAMAGE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 26. Nuremberg was heavily bombed by the Royal Air Force last night. Towns in western Germany were also heavily attacked and mines wore laid in enemy waters. Nine bombers are missing. The Germans said that the Royal Air Force attacked targets in southwestern Germany and admitted damage and casualties. Nuremberg is one of the greatest industrial centres of south Germany, and is an important railway junction. It is the town where the Nazi rallies are held. The German naval base at Wilhelmshaven again received attention from the Royal Air Force on Wednesday night. Canadians, flying Halifaxes and Wellingtons, in a concentrated attack lasting 20 minutes, caused further damage to important works. All the bombers returned safely in spite of the fact that the defences appeared to be stronger than on the last raid. It was Wilhelmshaven’s seventythird raid. On a recent raid the naval arsenal was blown up.

The Danish Nazi newspaper “National Socialisten” has published an indignant account of a big meeting held in Copenhagen to celebrate the bombing by Royal Air Force Mosquitoes of the Diesel engine works on January 27. The newspaper confirms the success of the raid, by quoting the chief speaker at the meeting. LieutenantColonel Bjarkov. Denmark’s leading airman, as saying: “The attack was an ideal example of assault. Every third bomb fell bang on the target. It was beautiful—really beautiful.'' Colonel Tillisch, officer' commanding the Danish Lifeguards, arranged the meeting at which all men wore Royal Air Force emblems. The newspaper adds that the meeting ended with “God Save the King 1 ’ and the Union Jack fluttering on the cinema screen.

The increasing part the Royal Air Force is playing in the war against U-boats, in attacks not only on their bases, but also on the high seas, was shown when 28 decorations were awarded. Of these, 14 were for attacks against submarines in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

The reason why German, hit and run raiders fly in low towards the English south coast has been explained by an Air Ministry official. He said that the English system of radio location, though better than the German, was not perfect, and was not entirely accurate at low levels. The Germans are losing one aircraft in eight in attacks on England, compared with the Royal Air Force loss of one in 25 in raids deep into enemy territory.

N.Z, SPITFIRE PILOT FIGHT WITH EIGHT GERMANS (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Feb. 25. Eight Focke Wulf 190s, flying at 20,000 feet over Gravclines, recently sighted a single Spitfire. They dived down in pairs at intervals of 100 yards, relishing this titbit for their cannon. But somehow the Spitfire seemed to dodge them. They termed a circle and flew round it, occasionally attacking from a range of 100 yards, but still the Spitfire evaded them. Finally it disappeared in a cloud bank and eluded them. The Spitfire pilot who shook off these odds of eight to one was Wing Commander P. G. Jameson, D.F.C. and bar, of Lower Hutt. Although hundreds of rounds of cannon-shells must have been fired at him, he returned to base without a single scratch on his aircraft, which was a Spitfire 9—one of the latest typos.

Wing Commander Jameson leads a wing comprising two Norwegian squadrons and another squadron. On this occasion he was leading the Norwegians on a sweep over St. Omer. Two Focke Wulfs flew in front of and slightly over the leading squadron. Wing Commander Jameson turned quickly and attempted a deflection shot. The Focke Wulfs dived down.

Then occurred the incidents leading to Wing Commander Jameson’s being outnumbered. Two other Spitfires in his section mistook each other for Wing Commander Jameson's Spitfire and went down after the Germans. Wing Commander Jameson did not notice that they had left him. A few seconds later he saw eight Focke Wulfs 10,000 feet under him and immediately attacked, thinking that his Nos. 2 and 3 were following him.

He chased the Germans down to 1500 feet, but could not catch up with them. He noticed then that he was alone and so climbed over Gravelincs to rejoin the squadron, He had arrived at nearly 20,000 feet when the eight Focke Wulfs began diving on him in pairs, He turned and met each attack head on, which was apparently not to the Germans’ liking. They formed a circle and began attacking him “from all directions.” He called up his squadron by radio telephone, telling .them that he was over Gravelines entertaining callers, but, “being somewhat occupied,” he gave no height, with the result they missed him by some eight or 10 miles. Each Focke Wulf made two or three attacks against the New Zealander, but he dodged them all by doing tight turns or "skidding” the Spitfire. He was able to get in a burst at one, but then his cannons jammed. Frequently he saw great flames spurting from the Germans’ cannon, but managed to evade the shells, sometimes vertically banking. Eventually he decided that it was “about time to go home.” Since Wing Commander Jameson has been leading the Norwegians from December 8, they have shot down 13 aircraft, probably shot down four, and damaged eight. Wing Commander Jameson, who is a survivor from the aircraft-carrier Glorious—he was one of the seven survivors on a raft, on which 22 died during three nights—has now shot down nine Germans. He is one of New Zealand’s outstanding fighter pilots. His wife, formerly Miss Hilda Webster, of Lower Hutt, gave birth to a daughter, Susan Lynne, s i February 6. On the same station arc Flight Lieutenant Paul Haywood (Wellington). Flying Officer T. Baird (Dunedin), and Sergeant K. Noble-Campbell (Nelson).

CANADIAN AIRFIELDS agreements with UNITED STATES (Roc. 11 p.m.) OTTAWA, Feb. 2;i. The Canadian Government has given considerable study to the problem of future international air traffic, says an authoritative source. Canadian rights have been protected in all agreements with the United Stales concerning the construction of landing fields in Canadian territory. The United States has undertaken a number of air projects in Canada, but in each case the Canadian Government has consented on the express understanding that the rights accorded to the United States are limited to the duration of the war. So far the dian Government has taken no official action concerning post-war commercial air facilities, though some officials are known to favour early negotiations to avoid complications and rivalries after the war.