BIG BOMBS ON ESSEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1943, Page 5

BIG BOMBS ON ESSEN

KRUPP WORKS AS TARGET “MOST DEVASTATING” LONDON, March 6. More than 150 bombs of 40001 b calibre, as well as a heavy tonnage of other high explosives, and thousands of incendiaries, were dropped on Essen, the home of Krupps’s armament works, within 40 minutes in a heavy, concentrated attack last night, which cost the Royal Air Force 14 bombers. Half-way through the raid there was a violent explosion, which left a huge orange cloud hanging in the sky for some minutes. Dense clouds of smoke rose to a height estimated at 15,000 feet. Returning airmen could still see the fires from the Dutch coast.

Flying Fortresses on Saturday afternoon heavily raided .Lorient. They hit the railway bridge leading to the city and left the naval powerhouse ablaze. Liberators, escorted by Royal Air Force and Allied fighters, heavily bombed the Brest docks. Three bombers and two fighters are missing from the two raids. The Essen raid is described by the “Sunday Express” as the heaviest and most devastating in history. The newspaper says it is estimated that three tons of high explosives and incendiaries crashed down every four seconds, which is a weight of attack no town has previously suffered. What it meant in casualties can be measured from what the Germans now admit of the latest raid on Berlin, when a weight of bombs less than that dropped on Essen caused 486 deaths and 377 seriously injured. A reporter who visited a Lancaster bomber base says veteran air crews agree that the raid was “the greatest ever.” The station commander said: “I have never seen crews come back looking so cheerful.” The commander of a Lancaster squadron said the losses were incredibly small for the results achieved. GOEBBELS’ ADMISSION. (Rec. 10.30) LONDON, March 7. Goebbels, as gauleiter of Berlin, in a message to Berliners, sank the last British terror raid placed the population under a heavy test. Obviously, there was great damage, but it will be repaired as soon as possible. I have ordered generous compensation for all dependents of the dead or injured. Our enemies believe they can weaken us with terror raids, and that Berlin is unable to stand up to raids in the same way as London. You Berliners have answered that.” Germany is preparing lor a terrible sharpening” of methods ol warfare, says the Swedish newspaper “Svenska Dagbladet’s” Berlin correspondent. It is being said in Germany that “new weapons . will be used until Britain and Russia ask lor mercy.” The correspondent asserts that before employing these weapons Germany will denounce all international conventions. He quotes a Bm’hn spokesman as saying ‘England, makes warfare against international rules. She will oe given a corresponding answer.” TWO ENEMY LOSSES. RUGBY, March 7. Two enemy aircraft were shot down by British fighters into the English Channel, this afternoon, it is officially stated.

RAID ON ENGLAND.

RUGBY, March 7

During Sunday, a few enemy aircraft have been active, mainly over coastal areas of the English Channel. says an official statement. Bombs were dropped at one point on the south-east coast and caused damage and casualties, some of which were fatal.

TWO E-BOATS SUNK

RUGBY. March 5

Two E-boats were sunk early today off the Dutch coast by Typhoons and Spitfires of Fighter Command. Two more were severely damaged. _ Describing the attacks, the Air Ministry states that two Typhoons spotted the E-boats as they were speeding up the coast towards Germany at 35 knots. Between them the Typhoons made nine attacks on the vessels, one pilot making five attacks. He left an. E-boat listing heavily and settling down, with only a foot or so sticking out of the water. His companion, after four attacks on the other E-boat, saw it very low at the stern. Men whom he had spotted on the deck soon disappeared. The Spitfires attacked two other Eboats, hitting one amidships by can-non-lire and slowing it down to a crawl, in spite of answering machinegun fire from the bows and stern. The fourth E-boat. after a scries of attacks, suffered a terrific explosion and fire broke out all over the vessel Bv the time the attacking pilot had used up all his ammunition the E-boat. was well alight and stationary.

U.S.A. LEADER’S ESTIMATE

LONDON, March 6

Brigadier-General Ira _ C. Eaker, commander of the United States bomber force in Britain, speaking at Bermondsey in the “Wings for Victory” savings campaign, said: Your target of 20 Flying Fortresses as a quota in the national drive is a sacred challenge to us who fly these winger avengers of the pain and suffering that were yours in the great London blitz. The Royal Air Force is already approaching its goal oi 1000 bombs for every Hun bomb. - He said that the American bombing effort had still a long way to go to match the Royal Air Force's'wonderful achievement, but he confidently expected the American bombei effort in England would grow from its present token size to full equality and partnership with the Royal Air Force. BRITISH BUILDING LONDON, March 6. Captain C. N. Mitchell, M.P , in a spoech said it was unto) tunate that Britain.- which built the best bombers in the world, should have agreed with the Americans that, during the war, America should concentrate on heavier aircraft while Britain concentrated on fighters. The results oi such an agreement must be obvious to everyone. At the end of the wai Britain would have an enormous fighter fleet, which was completely useless, while the Americans had a large number of transport aeroplanes which would be of vital importance to them in achieving a«,predominant place in civil flying. “However generously America may continue to help us with their magnificent machines, I cannot believe we can plan our own commercial air fleet of the future on a sound basis unless we build transport machines ourselves,” said Captain. Mitchell. SHELTER DISASTER. LONDON. March 6. A meeting of relations of those whodied in the London tube shelter tragedy unanimously passed a resolution demanding a public inquiry. A doctor who had been associated with the shelter said he had previously warned the authorities that the entrance was very dangerous, that there

was an urgent need for stair rails, but said he had been told to mind his own business.

N.Z. PILOT’S RECORD

WELLINGTON, March 6. With the award of the Distinguished Service Order just made to Act-ing-Flight Lieutenant James Fraser Barroip D.F.C., D.F.M., R.N.Z.A.F., formerly of Wellington, he enters a category exclusive to himself in the roll of honour of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Although not the first member of the New Zealand air personnel overseas to be trebly decorated he is the first and only New Zealander to be entitled to wear together the ribbons of the D. 5.0., D.F.C., and D.F.M. Flight Lieutenant Barron was 22 in January, and was born in Dunedin. His father, Mr. J. Barron, lives at Palmerston South. The official citation states:—' Flight Lieutenant Barron, during a night operation last month, was captain ot an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne. When nearing the target area, his aircraft was held in the searchlights and subjected to heavy fire from the ground defences. Flight Lieutenant Barron remained on his course, however, and, defying the intense barrage pressed home a successful attack on his second run oyer the target. In this operation he displayed exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty, thus setting an example of the highest order.” THREE MORE D.F.C’s. WELLINGTON, March 8. The award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to three more New Zealanders was announced to-day. The awards are to Flight Lieutenant Desmond Malcolm Rolphy-Smith, who received the White Eagle of Jugoslavia, first class, last year, (father Mr. C. E. Rolph-Smith, Auckland), Flying Officer Cederic ROssall Hesketh (father, Mr. H. R. Hesket, Auckland) and Flying Officer Douglas Watson Newall (wife, Mrs. C. IVI. Newall, Christchurch). The citations state: “Rolph-Smith has completed many hours of operational flying, involving long and arduous flights over mountainous areas in extremely adverse weather. He has always shown great skill, fortitude; and unflagging devotion to dU “Hesketh, one day this year participated in a fight with enemy aircraft in the course of which the Commanding Officer’s aircraft developed engine trouble. Hesketh covered the disabled aircraft until it was safely down on the sea, then returned to the attack, bringing, down two enemy fighters in two minutes. Throughout, he displayed courage and tenacity.” “Newall, as navigator, has completed many operations including attacks on most, of the heavily defended objectives in Germany, and at all times obtained outstanding results. His great skill in navigation and his determi nation to find the target despite opposition have proved an inspiration to all* . . T> A T? in Rolph-Smith joined the R - A -*-? n 1939. Hesketh and Newall aie m e *u hers of the Royal New Zealand An Force.