GERMAN CITIES BOMBED

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 January 1944, Page 6

GERMAN CITIES BOMBED

MAGDEBURG MAIN TARGET FIFTY-TWO R.A.F. LOSSES LONDON, January 23. Aircraft of the Bomber Command made a very heavy attack on Magdebur<>- one of the most important industrial cities of central Germany, on Friday night. More than 2000 tons of niph explosives and incendiaries were dropped, and large tires were left bU A ll ]?ght attack was made by Lancasters’ and Mosquitoes on Berlin. Other aircraft bombed targets in northern France and laid mines in enemy waters. Fighters on intrudei opeiations, without loss, destroyed one enemy aircraft. Fifty-two bombers are m Magdeburg, with a population of about 320,000, lies on the river Elbe, about 88 miles south-west of Berlin. It is a very important centre ot the heavy and general engineering industry, and is the home of Krupps tank factory, besides being one of tne centres of aeroplane manufacturing and aero-engine making. An air correspondent, writing on the attack, says the German High Command, believing another heavy attack was to be made on Berlin, appeared to have put up every available squadron of the Luftwaffe to break up the Bomber Command’s large force of Lancasters and Halifaxes. The ground defences at Magdeburg, however, were not as strong as those of Berlin, and the city’s guns and searchlights appeared to have been overwhelmed by the weight. and speed of the attack. Once again, it was a battle between fighters and bombers, which began soon after the bombers crossed the enemy coast, and continued all along the route and then again on the return journey. One experienced squadron commander said that when he left Magdeburg there were four big areas of fire merging into one. Most British crews agree that, in spite of all the careful planning by the Luftwaffe, fighters ciid not reach Magdeburg until after the attack had started.

NORTHERN FRANCE

LONDON, January 22.

A great new attack on German targets in northern France, particularly in the Pas de Calais area, was started on Friday before sunrise. Nineteen enemy aircraft were destroyed. The Allied forces lost six heavy bombers, and two fighters. Enemy fighter opposition on the whole; was weak. RUGBY, January 23. American Marauders and R.A.F. and Dominion fighter-bombers, escorted and supported by fighters, attacked military objectives in Northern France to-day. DAMAGE IN BERLIN LONDON, January 23. A neutral correspondent telephoning from Berlin to Zurich said that the Royal Air Force’s raid on Thursday night caused tremendous damage, especially in the south-east and east sections of the German capital. Fires spread rapidly owing to a ground wind, and the fire brigades, were helpless. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says that arrivals by aik from Berlin on Friday said that two huge fires were clearly visible from their Swedish aeroplane long after its departure. Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says that, according to a Swedish traveller, industrial and residential districts of Berlin were badly shattered. The city presented a terrible spectacle on Friday morning. Fires were still burning and a pall of smoke hung over the wrecked districts. Thousands of newly borhbed-out residents were trekking wearily to rest centres.

RAIDS ON ENGLAND.

EIGHTEEN ENEMY LOSSES.

LONDON, January 23

An official communique says that before midnight on Friday night and again in the small hours of yesterday morning, some 90 enemy aircraft crossed the British coast. They operated mainly over South-east England and the Home Counties, arid about one-third flew orer the London area. Bombs were dropped at a number of places. Damage was caused, and there were casualties, some fatal. Ten enemy aircraft were destroyed. During the second raid which developed on England yesterday morning bombs dropped on a south-east coast town caused considerable damage to houses and casualties in a residential area. Raiders returning to their base flew over one coast town without a pause for half an hour. A Junkers 88 which was on fire hurtled across a south-east coast town, and missing the rooftops and crashed in an open space in the centre of the town with a terrific explosion. The area was roped off as a number of unexploded bombs were believed to be in the wreckage. London’s barrage on Friday is officially described as the heaviest of the war. One south London gunsite fired 200 rounds from one gun. A rescue worker was killed instantly when a shell burst in front of him as he was leaving home to report for duty. A large number of incendiaries were dropped in one Home Counties town and on one London area, where two houses were destroyed. Delayed action bombs were also dropped. One enemy bomber blew up in mid-air and crashed behind a hotel without causing damage. A man went out into the garden of his home during the raid and was killed by anti-aircraft shell splinters. A number of narrow escapes from shell splinters are reported.

Eight German raiders were destroyed over Britain on Thursday night. This was the largest number of aircraft brought down over Britain in the last six months. London had the longest alert it has had for many weeks. Bombs were dropped in the metropolitan area, causing some damage and a few casualties. U.S.A. LEADER SATISFIED. ■ LONDON, January 23. General Spaatz, Commanding General of the United States Stni~ tegic AJr Forces in Europe, at a Fress conference, said: If we could have the same weather that we had iri the Mediterranean, I do not think cne Luftwaffe would last long. Given suitable weather in Europe the Lufiwaffe can be knocked out. There is no lack of trained United States z-Lir Force crews. The time is appi caching when two crews will be available for each plane. I am thoroughly satisfied with the acnm--f-cy pt the United States Air Forces’ daylight bombing.