RAIDS ON GERMANY

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 April 1943, Page 5

RAIDS ON GERMANY

COMPULSORY A.R.P. DUTY

HAVOC IN BERLIN

(Reed. 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, April 2. Goering has decreed compulsory A.R.P. duty for every ablebodied man and woman throughout Germany. The Berlin radio stated that wardens durins? I’ciids .cii’o authorised to utilise the services of bystanders. Every policeman automatically becomes an A.R.P. warden. x , ... “In future there must be no fainthearted onlookers, who stand around without lending a hand. There are always certain people who only help when forced by law,” said the radio. (Hitherto A.R.P. duty was onlly enforced in areas where the R.A.F. were active). . Despite the determined efforts by the German authorities to conceal information, details of the tremendous damage done in the last two R.A.r. raids on Berlin, continue to reach London, via neutral sources. One report states that at least two thousand were killed in last Saturday nights raid on the German capital. Many more must still be buried under acres of wreckage. It is also stated that more than four thousand anti-aircraft guns have been rushed to Berlin, m anticipation of renewed R.A.r. attacks. It is persistently reported m Sweden that the Templehof aerodrome was badly damaged.

COMPARATIVE LOSSES

LONDON, April 2. Speaking at Cairo, the Undersecretary for Air (Captain Balfour) referred to the “softening process going on over Germany and the occupied countries for the inevitable future invasion of Europe. He said that the bombing was becoming heavier and more intense, and he looked forward to real round-the-clock raids, w’hen bombs would drop on the enemy every hour of the day and night. Already a great deal of damage had been done in Germany, and the railway transport system in Northern France, Belgium, and Holland had been knocked about. Russia was also being helped by the Royal Air Force keeping engaged hall tne Luftwaffe’s fighter strength and a large number of bombers. The King’s message to the Royal Air Force referred to the clear ascendancy gained over the enemy in the air, and the co-operation oL tne Dominions and Allies. This was shown in the March figures of losses. The Germans lost 60 machines over Britain, while the R.A.F. lost one. Over Europe the R.A.F. and Ameri; can Air Force lost 409 aircraft against the Luftwaffe’s loss of 130. However, it is pointed out that the R.A.F machines flew thousands of sorties, often deep into enemy territory, while the operations of the Luftwaffe rarely extended beyond the coastal areas of Britain. The Berlin radio said that 80 were killed and 400 were injured in Rotterdam yesterday, as the result of the Flying Fortress raid. One thousand homes were destroyed and 10.000 people were rendered homeless.

WINGS FOR MR. CHURCHILL

LONDON, April 1. The Royal Air Force has presented the Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill) with his wings. Mr. Churchill is the first man, apart from Royalty, to be given the right to wear wings without first passing out as a pilot. The letter announcing the conferring of this distinction pointed out that Mr. Churchill has already flown more than 30,000 miles on official duties during the war. In acknowledging the compliment Mr. Churchill said he was honoured to be accorded a place in the comradeship of the air with men who guarded the life of Britain and carried doom to tyrants, whether they flaunted themselves or burrowed deep. The Russian Ambassador (Mr. Maisky) has added his tribute to the R.A.F. on the occasion of its twentyfl fth a nniversary.

N.Z. BOMBER SQUADRON LONDON, April 1

The first bombers of the New Zealand Ventura Bomber Squadron are now taking their full share of daylight raids in a round-the-clock offensive against Germany. They flew in a wing with Australian and English Squadrons. Twice recently the wing received messages of congratulations from the General Officer Commanding their Group, Air ViceMarshal J. H. Dalbiac. One message came after the wing bombed Rotterdam docks. They scored a direct hit on a minesweeper and an escort ship, almost putting a bomb down the funnel. They sunk a floating dock, starting a large fire. The New Zealand Squadron also bombed Rotterdam on two successive days, Wing Commander G. B. Grindeli A.F.C., of Timaru, leading. It was their first raid, when intense ack-ack fire was encountered. Squadron Leader L. H. Trent, D.F.C., of Nelson, led the second attack. One crew gained distinction, it being the sole all-New Zealand crew in the Squadron—others being comprised of New Zealanders, Englishmen, and. Canadians —that went to Rotterdam in both raids. It comprised Sergeants F. S. Stevenson and A. Sheehan, both of Auckland; M. L. S. Darrell, Morrinsville; and J. R. Lloyd, Wellington. During the first Rotterdam raid a shell exploded under lhe tail. Sheehan said: “It made the kite skid on its nose, but nobody was harmed. The aircraft was not damaged.” The squadron raided Dunkirk to bomb shipping. It was prevented from finding the target once by bad weather. On the second trip pur bombs narrowly missed, snipping. The squadron met with intense flak on both these occasions—Dunkirk being a hot spot. Eight out of twelve aircraft were holed by flak, nevertheless all pressed home attacks regardless of opposition. Air Vice Marshal Dalbiac again congratulated the wing for these attacks. When New Zealanders bombed marshalling yards at Caen, they scored a direct hit on engine-sheds, they cut a train in half and scored three hits on the main station, flattcnin° 2 J cicrcs ol weirchouse. Iney bombed Abbeville marshalling yaids twice, and an oil refinery at Maasluis That trip will be remembered bv Sergeant R. R. W. Pye of Auckland who was making his first raid, with Flying Officer G. A.. Park of Otago. Park has been m nine of the squadron’s twelve raids, Grindell has also been in nine raids, Trent and Pilot Officer T. L. B Taylor of Wellington, and Flying Officer S. Coshall of Auckland, have been in eight raids each. Grindell paid a warm tribute to trie squadron’s ground crews for their part. “It was tnrough thenuntiring efforts that we have been able to make so many sorties.” His squadron had now well settled down and more New Zealanders are being posted to it. They include Flying Officers O. E. Foster, North Canterbury; S. McGowan, Hastings. T. A. Penn, Christchurch; Sergeants R. F. Beazer, Feilding: D. R. Fowler, ot Arrowtown; H. Baird, ol Hamilton; C R Smith, of Millers Flat; T. W. J Warner, Motueka; J. F. Ulrich, Hawera; and R. Street, New Plymouth.

AWARDS FOR BRAVERY

LONDON, April 1. Flight Lieutenant J. L. Drummond D.F.C. of Auckland and Sgt. W. L. Harvey, D.F.M., of Abbotsford

who were recently decorated for bravery when their Stirling was hit by ack-ack fire while minelaying, raided Berlin on March 27, and completed their thirtieth and final operation for their first tour. They have now rested together, with Flying Officer G. Patrick of Dunedin, and Sergeant S. Craw, who is in the same crew. This crew raided Turin thrice and Genoa once. There was a number of New Zealanders in the same squadron, including Flight Lieutenant W. Butler, Flying Officer I. McNarry (both of Dunedin), Pilot Officer L. Blair (Auckland), Flight Lieutenant I. Ellis, Flying Officer H. Shelds. Pilot Officer T. A. Stewart, Dannevirke and Flight Sergeant A. James of Wellington, received D.F.M’s. from the King at Buckingham Palace recently. ■ Pilot Officer Stewart flew Lancasters and raided Essen and Munich. He is now an instructor. Sergeant James did his first tour of operations with the Seventy-fifth Squadron and later went to Malta and Egypt. Once Ihe crash-landed in an enemy minem but was miraculously unhurt. Y£e U now at a § unnery - schoo! -