THREE GREAT ARMADAS STRIKE AT GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 153, 25 March 1944, Page 7

THREE GREAT ARMADAS STRIKE AT GERMANY

■ . New Standards Set In Air War

R.A.F. UNLOADS 3000 TONS ON INDUSTRIAL FRANKFURT

LONDON, March 23. No fewer than 5000 war planes in three huge armadas blasted a way deep into the Reich during the 24 hours ended at 1 p.m. today, constituting the three biggest successive bombardments so far launched in air warfare.

These terrific blows began at dayl’Sjt on Wednesday with the attack by 1000 Annerican aircraft against Berlin, wnicii was followed by the B.A.F.’s night ns sault on Frankfurt, in which, it is revealed, the Bomber Command established a new record by dropping 3000 tons of bombs. , , . The third blow came today when an American air fleet estimated to total over 1700 planes carried out another fivetarget offensive— against Hamm,. Achiner, Handorf, Munster and Brunswick.

The Press Association’s aviation correspondent Estimates that 6000 tons of bombs have been discharged in the past two days—a bombing rate of approximately 250 tons an hour, or over four tons a minute. Hour after hour, almost non-stop, since 9 a.m. yesterday Germans have been hearing their new radio raid warning. The Keich has had only three short periods of respite, for a few hours yesterday afternoon, between dark and daylight early today, and for three hours this afternoon, but the radio alarm started again at 4 p.m. and was still in action after nightfall. , Over 2000 of the 5000 war.planes m action in the past 24. hours were fourmotored bombers carrying highly destructive tonnages of high-explosive and incendiary bombs, but simultaneously fleets of hundreds of medium bombers and fighters throughout the day, without suffering loss, hammered targets in occupied territories, including Creil and airfields at Beauvais Tille and Beaumont _le Roger, in northern France, and the railway centre of .Haine St. Pierre, in Belgium. ' , ' Frankfurt Description. Mosquito crews who attacked Berlin last night saw fires burning from the big American raid of the previous day. They reported lanes of fighter flares leading into the capital, but very few fighters were seen on the way to Frankfurt or over the target itself. Since the Mosquitoes did not begin to reach Frankfurt till after zero hour, which was just after 9.45 p.m., the main defence of the city had to be left to guns and searchlights. Flak was intense, and the whole city was ringed with searehlights in a continuous belt. After the bombing had started fires got a good hold while the main force was still over the target, and a thick' black pall of smoke rose .well above the cloud-tops. Several exceptional explosions are reported, the flame of one shooting up to about 3000 feet. Some 30 key war factories comprise the industrial importance of Frankfurt. Besides being the most important centre of the chemical industry in Germany, its factories produce military transport, aircraft components, instruments for aircraft, motor vehicles, detonating, apparatus for naval mines, and precision instruments for small-arms ammunition. There are also large grain stores, flour mills, and oil storage plants, and Frankfurt is a vital railway junction and an important canal link. A reconnaissance pilot who was over the city at 11 a.m. today reported that large fires were still burning in the centre'of the target and that smoke was up to 15,000 feet. Mosquitoes dropped 40001 b. bombs on Frankfurt an hour after the main attack. American Day Onslaught.

Allied bombers were out in strength again today. , United iStates headquarters state that strong forces of the Eighth Air Force today attacked targets in north-west Germany, including the bomber base of Hadnorf, the lLuftwaffe station at Aehmer, and the large aircraft port of Werl. Bombs were also dropped in the Brunswick district and elsewhere. Fighters in very great strength provided escort support" „ . , All the targets except Brunswick were bombed visually, with good results.' Brunswick was bombed through clouds by instruments. The enemy fighter opposition varied from slight to strong. Some of the bomber formations reported that the attacks were sharp but not persistent. The escorting aircraft shot down £0 enemy fighters and the number destroyed by the bombers is not yet. available. Twenty-seven bombers and six fighters are missing. Tjje German news agency claims that 42 four-engined American bombers were shot down over Germany. Beaufighters of the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. of the Coastal Command attacked two small enemy ships oft the Norwegian coast. One was left on fire. One aircraft is missing. Marauders attacked the railway centre of Haine St. Pierre, in Belgium, late this afternoon. They were escorted by Allied Spitfires and by Thunderbolts of the Ninth Air Force.

Vichy radio says that Allied planes bombed the Paris area at midday. R.A.F. formations went out across the Channel after tea.

SWITCH INDICATED Factory Objectives To Luftwaffe Itself (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 23., kn air correspondent says that today’s attacks seem to indicate a switch-over to the smashing of the Luftwaffe itselt, following the attacks which have recently been made against Nazi manufacturing centres, airfields and railways over far stretches of the enemy’s The latest official statement by American headquarters refers to the refusal' of Luftwaffe pilots to give battle during the Americans’ sweeps across Germany and occupied territory. The raids also being carried out by the ILA.F., which are becoming heavier and heavier as each day and night arrives, must presumably prove to the Germans witnout any doubt whatever that the writing on the wall is becoming clearer to their vision. . An analysis of the damage to Berlin just published by the Air Ministry states that the numberof factories destroyed or damaged by air attack between November, 1943, and February, 1944, is at least 326. Of 103 factories listed by the Ministry of Economic Warfare as being of the highest importance. to the German war effort, 29 have been_seriously damaged or destroyed and 15 less seriously damaged. In addition to priority factories, a further 151 important general produce factories have been seriously damaged and 58 less seriously. Seventythree unidentified industrial plants have also been hit, of which 46 were seriously damaged. Shortages due to air raid damage are becoming apparent both in the German armed forces and in the industrial economy. Damage to communications has also been severe, while administrative confusion as a result of our raids is considerable owing to the destruction of Government offices and records.

Large numbers of workers have left Berlin without sanction, and 29 main Government offices haye been damaged most severely.