RAID ON MUNICH

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 December 1942, Page 5

RAID ON MUNICH

LARGE FIRES STARTED TWELVE BRITISH LOSSES LONDON. December 22. An Air Ministry communique says that Munich was the target for an attack by a strong British bomber force last -night. In spite of considerable cloud a great weight of bombs was dropped and large fires were seen.

There were several encounters with German night fighters, at least two of which were shot down. Twelve British bombers are missing from the attack.

Berlin radio says: British bombers were over South Germany last night. A hospital was hit. Several inmates were killed or' severely injured. Otherwise there was only minor material damage.

THREE TUGS SUNK RUGBY, December 22. R.A.F. bombers to-day attacked railway and other targets in Northwest Germany and the Low Countries. Fighters sank three tugs off the coast of Holland, and attacked gunposts and a train in France. One fighter and one bomber are missing. NEW ZEALANDERS’ HOT TIME. (Rec. 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22. Mr. Jordan on his visit to the New Zealand members, of a Stirling Squadron which participated in the Duisberg raid on December 20, heard a dramatic story of the adventures of a Stirling captained by Squadron Leader G. M. Allcock, of Auckland. A Junkers 88 attacked the Stirling when it was almost over the target. The bomber was silhouetted against the flares and searchlights, but the rear gunner got in the first bursts and bits fell from the Junkers. . The enemy, however, raked the Stirling with cannon and .machine-gun fire, which holed the starboard tailplane elevator and fin, and set fire to the dinghy storage hold and starboard tank, ‘from which petrol flooded into the fuselage. A shell burst against the window of the rear turret temporarily blinded the gunner. The second* pilot was wounded in a knee and a shell-burst scorched the face of the flight engineer. A bullet struck the radio operator on the left hand, but he continued and repaired the damaged radio. Eventually the midupper gunner got in a burst and the Junkers went down in a vertical dive. The Stirling located and bombed the target. The fire burned on in the dinghy storage hold and everyone got ready to bale out. The fire did not appear to spread, although it remained alight until near the English coast. When the base was reached, the under-carriage was found to be jammed, whereupon Allcock safely “bellv-landed” clear of the runway, so that the plane would not endanger following aircraft.

FORTYtFOUR GERMAN LOSSES

LONDON, December 21

Forty-four German fighters were destroyed on Sunday during the big daylight raid on the huge German aircraft park at Romilly-sur-Seme. 80 miles south-east of Paris. This information has been released by United States Army Air Force Headquarters. Six enemy aircraft were seen to crash. 23 went down in flames, 14 disintegrated in the air. and one was abandoned by the pilot.

ALL-OUT OFFENSIVE

RUGBY, December 22.

American Air Forces in Britain will soon be ready to undertake an all-out air offensive, stated MajorGeneral Henry F. Miller, who has been appointed Commanding General of the' United States Army Eightn Air Force Service Command. He said that his command dealt with supplies and equipment and maintaining repairs and salvage, adding, “Our real mission is to get ready for the all-on* offensive against the Axis, and I can assure you, we will be ready to accomplish this mission within a very brief period. Within the past six months, every element in this command has been working, at top speed to complete those ‘behind the line services,’ with a view to a sustained air offensive.” Asked if any of General Arnolds “battle waggons” had reached Britain, Gen. Miller said: “They will be over. Our newer typo of combat an • craft will come here as soon as they can be turned out.”

RAIDS ON ENGLAND

RUGBY, December 22. There were no enemy raids on Britain last night. It is officially stated tout a lev (■•nomv aircraft had flown over coastal districts east and south of England to-dav. Bombs dropped this morning oil a town in East Anglia, and a town in South-east England caused some damage and casualties inchiding a small number of people killed. Only slight damage was done. No one was injured. Two enemy bombers were destroyed. One off the east coast of England by A.A. fire, and. the other off the south coast by fighters. An enemy bomber was destroyed by our fighters off the south coast of. England to-day.

“BALE-OUT” SAVES PLANE (Recd. 2.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22. The Air Ministry News Service states:—Two R.A.F. Aircraftmen got an unexpected thrill when passengers in a plane which developed engine trouble. The pair were proceeding to the Nile Delta. The pilot, who was a New Zealand living-officer, was able to maintain the engine, but the plane eventually lost, height. The pilot ordered the two aircraftmen to bale out. Without hesitation, both jumped by parachute, landing near a village. They were -arrested and placed m custody at the village prison. A villager who vouched for them took them home, fed and accommodated them for the night. They rejoined the unit, and learned that the lightened plane had gained height, and reached the airfield.