MAINZ BOMBED

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1942, Page 6

MAINZ BOMBED

HEAVY DESTRUCTION BRITISH LOSE SIXTEEN RUGBY, August 12; The Air Ministry states that last night a strong force of bombers attacked Mainz, an important centre of industry,. and. rail and river communications in the Rhineland. Crews reported the attack was particularly successful. A reconnaissance this morning showed the fires were still burning. , , , T Objectives at Coblenz, docks at L.e Havre, and airfields in the Low Countries were also attacked. Sixteen bombers are missing from the night operations and one fighter is missing from an offensive patrol yesterday. EXTENT OF BOMBINGS RUGBY, August 12. Fewer than 200 bombers dropped over 450 tons of bombs on Osnabruk, during the recent raid, more than the Germans ever dropped on Britain in one night. The bombs included between forty and fifty of the 40001 b type. Between 70 and 80 were dropped at one time. From July 12 to August 11 the R.A.F .undertook harassing operations on 26 days, and only three periods of 24 hours were without raids. Of the thirteen night raids made on Germany, in only one was fewer than 100 aircraft used. In one, the number was over 600. Ten had between ZOO and 450 machines. .During July, 13,000 tons of bombs were dropped on Germany, compared with 3500 .in the same month in 1940, and 8500 in July, 1941. Mine-laying was also many times increased. Air experts are of the opinion that, given good weather conditions, there is no reason why bombing should not continue on an equivalent scale. The increase has been made while more and more bombers have been sent to other theatres of war. GOEBBELS’ ADMISSION. (Recd. 1 p.m.) LONDON, August 12. Goebbels admits that Germany is not mass raiding Britain because the planes are needed in Russia. In an article published in “Das Reich,” Goebbels says: “It would be possible to withdraw several thousand planes from the east, and hurl them against Britain in massive reprisal attacks on a scale which would deprive the R.A.F. of any desire to terrorise German towns by spiteful attacks. She does not do this because she is fighting the war to win, not to indulge in the desire for revenge, which would split up her forces, which is the aim of the enemy war leaders. The German method is to concentrate on a great plan from which she will never diverge, however unfavourable the attendant effect." GERMAN ACE KILLED LONDON. August 12. The German High Command has announced that Major Pflanz was shot down and killed in combat with Royal Air Force fighters over France on July 31. He had on the previous day scored his fifty-first success in combat. The Air Ministry News Service recalls that on July 31 Spitfires escorted Bostons to bomb the German fighter base at Abbeville. Hectic dogfights occurred between 100 Royal Air Force and German fighters over the Somme area. Eleven German aeroplanes were destroyed for the loss of eight British. Major Pflanz was killed in one of these fights.

RAIDS ON ENGLAND

RUGBY, August 16

It is officially stated that before midnight, a small number o£ enemy aircraft dropped bombs on places on the south coast of England. Some damage and casualties, including eight killed were caused. Later, aircraft bombed scattered points in eastern and northern England, and east Midlands where damage and casualties were slight. One enemy bomber was destroyed.

BRITAIN'S NEW BOMBERS

RUGBY, August 11

The latest British heavy bombers, the Avro Lancasters, with a maximum range of about 3000 miles can carry the heaviest bombs to the furthermost parts of the enemy territory. Its maximum bomb-load is about eight tons. Lancasters have been used at Essen, Dusseldorf, Augsburg, Danzig, Flensburg and other raids. The flight to Danzig, involving a round journey of over 1,700 miles, is the longest trip yet made by the Bomber Command. The Lancaster is a development of the two-engined Manchester, and was built in record time. Its success was assured from the first trial flights, and the staff of two large factories, where the Lancasters are made, arc justly proud. The design lends itself to relatively cheap production. The entire aeroplane is built up on component parts, manufactured largely as separate selfcontained units, easily moved and assembled. There is used in its production, for instance a 6000' ton hydraulic press, purchased four years ago from a wallpaper firm. This is now responsible for producing 40,000 components weekly. The Lancaster’s wingspan is 102 feet, length of plane 69 feet four inches, height 20 feet. The bomb load is carried inside the fuselage in a compartment with two large doors operated hydraulically. A special electric circuit ensures the bombs cannot be released until the bomb doors are open. In case of failure of the hydraulic system, the bomb doors can be operated by an emergency air system, as can the undercarriage. The armament is ten Browning guns of .303 calibre, installed in four turrets, one in the nose, one above, and one below the middle of the fuselage and the fourth in the tail. A crew of seven can be carried.