BOMBERS’ LONG FLIGHTS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24271, 31 May 1944, Page 3

BOMBERS’ LONG FLIGHTS

Factories In East Raided

3000 MORE TONS ON EUROPE

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) tFU-c. 11 p.m.) LONDON. May 20. In day raids alone, some KiOO Heavy bombers yesterday dropped 3000 tons of bombs on targets in occupied Europe, according to a United Press estimate. From Britain and Italy the bombers flew deep into and across Germany to maintain the great weight of the offensive which on Sunday had carried 8000 tons of explosives into Europe. , . Last night the routine targets along the French coast were bombed and Mosquitoes hit Hanover. No aircraft were lost. Again this morning formation has followed formation across the Channel and the German radio has given warnings of Allied aircraft over northwest, west, central, and southern Germany. _ , ■ Enemy raiders came over England last night and caused damage and casualties. At least two were destroyed. Great Blow at Plane Factories Yesterday’s raids developed into the greatest series of blows of the war against German aircraft factories. Flying Fortresses and Liberators attacked Polish and Geiman fighter aircraft factories. In air battles they destroyed 62 enemy aircraft. The fighter escort destroyed another 38, Thirtyfive bombers and 11 fighters are missing. The fighter aircraft factories at Posen and Kreising in Poland and at Leipzig, Tutow, Cottbus and Sorau, in Germany, were attacked by very strong forces of the Bth United States Air Force Kreising is five miles southeast ot Posen. Tutow is south-east of Rostock, near Anklam. Cottbus is 95 miles south-east of Berlin and Sorau is 130 miles south-east of Berlin. More than 1200 fighters of the Bth and 9th Air Forces were in escort. They included Lightnings, Mustangs and Thunderbolts. It is understood that between 750 and 1000 heavy bombers took part in these raids. “No Safety” The British United Press has recalled that the attacks against Tutow, Posen, and Leipzig were return visits, but that this was the first time the Allies had bombed the factories at Cott-

bus, Sorau, and Kreising. “This is a reminder to Hitler that no matter how far he transfers his aeroplane factories eastward, he cannot safeguard them from our bombers.” The bombers out' against Posen had to fly a round trip exceeding 1400 miles. Other forces of bombers attacked a synthetic oil plant at Folilz, a suburb of Stettin. The Stockholm correspondent of the Associated Press says that eight American heavy bombers were forced down in Sweden during the day. More than 500 United States airmen are now interned in Sweden. Marauders and Havocs from Britain carried out their heaviest attack of the war when 400 of them, escorted by Thunderbolts, attacked four bridges and airfields in northern France and Belgium, One bridge was completely broken, another was wrecked, and a

third had a row of craters across it. The fourth, crossing the Meuse at Lie-geval-Benoit, received at least 12 hits, Not a single enemy aeroplane was sighted during these operations. Bostons and Mitchells in the afternoon attacked railway yards in Belgium, while other Mitchell squadrons attacked military targets in northern France. These followed earlier operations in the course of which rocket projector Typhoons made a successful attack on a power station in northern France.

The Paris radio says that Allied raids on France since May 26 have killed 4480. injured about 8000, and made 100.000 homeless. Many persons in Marseilles were killed in the streets because they did not obey advice to take shelter.

AIRCRAFT PLANTS BOMREI)

HEAVY BOMBERS OVER VIENNA AREA

(Roc. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 29. Between 500 and 750 heavy bombers of the Mediterranean Air Force flew over the Alps again yesterday and heavily bombed the aeroplane factories and airfields at Vienna and at Wiener Neustadt, which is a Messerschmitt assembly centre, and an airframe factory a few miles south-west of Vienna. The Mediterranean Air Force was very active in Italy, where it switched the' attack from rail connexions between Rome and Florence, which have now been cut. to west coast ports and neighbouring targets. Liberators carried the attack to Jugoslavia and flew two missions against German troop concentrations. FUTURE IN U.S. MR DEWEY SPEAKS (Rcc. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 30. "The preservation ot America's unity in the post-war period is the vital problem of our time." said Mr T. E_ Dewey, addressing a conference of State governors. "Civilians axe worried about inefficiencies and bungling on the home front. Nevertheless there is a clear sense of unity about things that really count. “Our people are determined to win the war. They are united on the proposition that our foreign affairs must be conducted so that disasters like the present war do not recur. Twice in a veneration troubles elsewhere have been allowed to grow until they became vast cataclysms that engulfed us We must not again sit on the sidelines while the future Kaisers, Fuehrers, and war lords grow strong and perfect plans for aggression. "Our success or failure after the war depends on whether we accept the lesson the war has taught us. If we permit the continuance of regimentation, which some so earnestly desire, we shall fail.”