BOMBING OF EUROPE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23973, 14 June 1943, Page 5

BOMBING OF EUROPE

R.A.F. Batters Ruhr Cities AMERICAN RAIDS IN DAYLIGHT (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON. June 13. Bombers of the Royal Air Force were again over the Ruhr in great strength last night. The main target was Bochum, an important arms and transport centre. Twenty-four bombers are missing. A bomb load of considerably more than that of over 2000 tons which fell on Dortmund on May 23 was dropped on Dusseldorf and Muenster on Thursday night when the Bomber Command resumed the Battle of the Ruhr. The combined attack was the heaviest of the whole war. Forty-three bombers arc missing from both raids. Weather conferences were held at frequent intervals throughout the day and the evening was well advanced before the Commander-m-Chief (Sir Arthur Harris) gave the final order. The main attack was on Dusseldorf whose heavy engineering industries make it one of the most important war towns in Germany. The great Rheinmetall Borsig works are a close rival to Krupps. The other target, Muenster, 50 miles north-east of the Ruhr, is the centre of railways and waterways on which many Ruhr industries depend. Three hundred and eighty acres of Dusseldorf were devastated in the summer of 1942 and a heavy attack was made on March 25. Crews last night reported that pitch black volumes of smoke about 20.000 feet high rose from the target after the attack and there were huge fires burning underneath. “I have never seen anything like it before.” said one pilot. Another airman said: “When wo got into the rising smoke our Lancaster suddenly leapt upwards. We could feel the heat and smoke which blackened our windows.” Most of the crews agreed that even at the beginning the flak was not up to the Runr standard. The ground de-

fences gave no sign of life until the first bombs were dropped. Then the barrage was-fairly intense, but it was soon overwhelmed by the weight of the attack. Very few guns were firing at the end, but there were many reports of night fighters. “I should say the attack was definitely another advance for us in the Battle of the Ruhr,” said a squadron commander. “Wo were all determined to knock the war factories of the Ruhr right out.” The weather over Muenster was equally favourable and all reports

agree that the attack was successful. The opposition was not severe and the targets were readily identified. On Saturday morning at least 10 fires with high columns of smoke were burning. U-Boat Bases Attacked

The United States Army announced that more than 200 heavy bombers of the Bth Air Force attacked Wilhelmshavcn and Cuxhaven in daylight late on Friday. A large force of unescorted bombers penetrated to the U-boat yards at V/ilhclmshaven against strong enemy opposition, while a second , formation attacked the harbour installations and submarine base at Cuxhaven. Bomb bursts were observed on both of "1110 target areas. The leading groups in the Wilhelmshaven mot llercc .fighter opposition and a large number qf the enemy were destroyed. Eight bombers are missing. Experts consider that this is the biggest air raid week-end ever. It is estimated that between 2500 and 3000 Allied aeroplanes pierced Hitler’s European fortress. The loss of 43 bombers in a single night attack over Germany is not light, but is regarded as not excessive in view of the scale of the attack and the destruction caused to such an important centre. The actual number of bombers which crowded over Dusseldorf for just over an hour is not disclosed, but it was the greatest number since the days of the 1000-bomber raids and included the biggest number of four-engined aircraft ever used on one night. The Press Association’s aviation writer says that He is assured we have the air crews and the aeroplanes sufficient to launch these great onslaughts until the Reich industrial centres are bombed into submission just as surely as Pantelleria. Subsidiary Attack The main object of the subsidiary attack on Mucnster was probably twofold—to confuse and split the German defences, and prevent the interchange of civil defence services, especially fire fighters. A Berlin broadcaster admitted that fires were still burning at noon on Friday. A war reporter told the story of a raid, evidently against Dusseldorf, He said: “I am now looking at burntout places, where flames are still flaring up, but we tired people must carry on our work. A great deal happened last night. We realise what it means to be exposed to such dangers.” An A.R.P. official said: “I am forced to appeal for help from outside, as the local organisation is insufficient." Dortmund is probably the most heavily damaged city in Germany for its size, states the Air Ministry News Service. Photographs taken after the heavy raid on May 23 reveal that in the closely-packed centre of the city alone at least 150 acres has been devastated. mostly by fire, and 880 office and administration buildings in large city blocks have been destroyed or severely damaged. A vital target was the great Hocsch Company’s steel works, more than three-quarters of which was devastated, including three or four rolling mills, a forge, and an administrative block. The company had a huge output of casting* for tanks. It is second in importance to Krupps. Targets in France The Air Ministry states that Venturas and Eostons on Friday evening attacked the airfield at Caen and targets near Rouen. Late in the evening Typhoons bombed the airfield at Abbeville. Squadrons of fighters escorted the bombers and also made sweeps over a wide area in northern France. Two enemy fighters were destroyed, and one of our bombers is missing. A Royal Air Force fighter is missing from a patrol this morning. Royal Air Force fighters were over France and Holland during the dayon offensive sweeps. They' also escorted Venturas to attack the coke ovens and benzole installations at Zcebrugge. The Venturas scored direct hits on the targets, and a thick smoke indicated benzoic fires. There was heavy flak over the targets, also over St, Omcr and other heavily defended areas. Enemv fighters offered no opposition, but they came up to meet Smtfires. which later swept the Abbeville. St. Pol. and Berck areas. The Spitfires. which included a New Zealanc pilot, emerged from dogfights without loss after destroying uvo Messerschmits and one Focke V ulf. High explosive bombs are reported to have been dropped in London today. Some houses were damaged and a few persons injured. Incendiary bombs were dropped on a south-west town.