AERIAL OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1944, Page 5

AERIAL OFFENSIVE

GERMAN CENTRES HIT SOUNGEN AND STUTTGART LONDON, November 6. Yesterday afternoon Royal Air Force Lancasters, escorted by Spitfires and Mustangs, made another attack on Solingen, the “"Sheffield” of Germany,’ a few miles east of Dusseldorf. “Reports indicate that the bombing was well concentrated in the attack against Solingen,” says the Air Ministry. “The escorting Spitfires and Mustangs flew supporting sweeps. One bomber is missing.” An Air Ministry communique says: Bomber Command Mosquitoes on Sunday night, without loss, twice attacked Stuttgart. The bombers left large fires burning. ‘"•Allied bombing is reported to have destroyed the Mulheim suspension bridge, one of the biggest bridges spanning the Rhine, at Cologne.” says the correspondent of “The Times” with the American forces in Holland. “The wreckage of the bridge is obstructing Rhine traffic.” More than 700 Halifaxes and Lancasters, escorted by more than 250 Spitfires and Mustangs, this afternoon, gave Gelsenkirchen its heaviest raid of the war.

The Press Association says Gelsenkirchen is the only large town in the Ruhr which so far has not been seriously damaged. Its two large marshalling yards, capable of handling 4000 waggons every 24 hours, have been of great value to the German Army. In addition to the oil refineries at Hamburg, Fortresses and Liberators to-day attacked targets .at Neumunster north of Hamburg and industrial plants in the Duisburg region, says a U.S.A.A.F. communique. Four enemy planes were destroyed. Seven of our bombers and ten fighters are missing, but some of the fighters are believed to be safe in friendly territory.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC DAM

LONDON, November 6

A group of Lightnings shot down the whole of the balloon barrage protecting the hydro-electric dam at the Ederstau Lake, 16 miles south-east of Kassel. Fighter-bombers then 10 times directly hit and destroyed the dam. Eleven Messerschmitt 110’s tried to interfere. The Lightnings, without loss, shot down two of them. U.S.A. ONSLAUGHTS RUGBY, Nov. 6. Over 1100 American Fortresses and Liberators to-day attacked oil refineries in the Hamburg-Harburg region, industrial targets in the Ruhr Valley, and other objectives in Western Germany. The bombers were escorted by over 700 Mustangs and Thunderbolts. Six bombers and ten fighters previously reported missing from yesterday’s operations are safe leaving the total 24 bombers and 13 fighters missing. U.S.A. FRENCH FORCE.

RUGBY, November 6. For the first time American and French airmen are to be joined in a single air force in France. SHAEF announced the formation of a new United States tactical air force in France, under Major General Ralph Royce. It will comprise American and French fighter bombers and medium bomber groups. NEW U.S. BOMBER. WASHINGTON, November 5. The A 26 Invader, the newest and fastest all-purpose bomber of the United States Army Air Forces, is now in action, reports the United States War Department. It is designed to carry such an extremely flexible selection of machine-guns, cannon, bombs and fuel that its offensive striking power is expected to be adaptable to almost any combat action. It is the latest development in the fighter-bomber line from the Douglas Aircraft Company, which produced the Douglas Dauntless. It is specifically designed for low or medium altitude work. The Invader has two 2000 horse-power Pratt and Whitney engines. A new doubleslotted flap reduces the landing speed and assists the take-off. FLYING BOMBS. LONDON, November 6. “Flying bombs may decide the outcome of future wars,” said Sir Miles Thomas, vice-chairman of the Nuffield Organisation. “Scientific, development of flying bomb principles tan increase their range to an undreamed of degree, and with the combination of radar directional beams or homing devices these selfpropelled torpedoes may well be a decisive factor in any future war. Therefore it behoves nations who want to preserve their freedom to keep scientific and . technical developments in the forefront of their minds.”