BOMBING RAIDS ON GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23969, 9 June 1943, Page 2

BOMBING RAIDS ON GERMANY

—— “ DEVASTATING EFFECT " GROUP CAPTAIN OLSON RETURNS TO N.Z. (P.A.) WELLINGTON. June 8. “The present bombing offensive against the Germans and Italians is the result of a long period of planning, production effort, training, and organisation,” said Group Captain E. G. Olson, D.5.0., R.N.Z.A.F., who recently returned to New Zealand for duty after a period of service in Britain. in an interview to-day. "The effect of these raids, which is both terrifying and devastating upon (he war industries and morale of the enemy, is not doubted by anyone who has participated in them,” said Group Captain Olson. "When one is shaken at 7000 feet by the explosion of an 80001b bomb, one can just imagine what is happening down below. To achieve these results the utmost efficiency is required from every branch of the service. Proof of this efficiency may bo seen in the massive scale of recent raids, and the mounting weights of bombs dropped in individual attacks.”

Group Captain Olson participated in the devastating raid on Luebeck last year as second pilot to Wing Commander T. O. Freeman. D.5.0., D.F.C.. and bar. This was a heavy attack, and the whole target area was pounded almost beyond recognition. Nevertheless, the weight of bombs dropped was not large, compared with recent raids on other German cities, and it was not hard to imagine the enormous destruction those attacks caused. The German retaliation raids were small affairs bv comparison. Group Captain Olson said that generally speaking our operational aircraft wore bettor than the enemy’s, and our training methods were without equal. Group Captain Olson said; “You may be sure that wherever New Zealanders are serving they are popular. Everyone speaks very highly of them.”