AERIAL OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1945, Page 5

AERIAL OFFENSIVE

WIDE AREA COVERED BREMEN AND BERLIN RUGBY, April 21. With Berlin encircled by the Red Army, R.A.F. Mosquitoes are patrolling west of the city from dusk to dawn to intercept any attempted escape by air. Last night a FW 190 and a FW 189 were shot down bringing the total of enemy aircraft destroyed since the Russians entered Berlin to 21. Mosquito bombers continued attacks on targets north of Bremen and Hamburg and up to the Danish border. Sixteen trams were successfully attacked, including one drawing 15 oil tankers, which were left blazing from end to end. Other Mosquitoes caused large fires and explosions in two targets north-east of Bremen and even after the Mosquitoes had taken off to start their night operations medium bombers were still over Bremen in a dusk attack after an all-day bombing of th While the R.A.F. 2nd Tactical Air Force’s main effort yesterday was linked with the 2nd British Army s drive on Bremen, fighters and fight er-bombers had a big day against enemy movement by road, rail, sea and air. Incomplete scores show that over 460 motor transport were destroyed or damaged, over 40 cuts were made on railways mainly radiating from Hamburg and over 70 locomotives and 420 trucks were accounted for. In the air 10 aircraft were destroyed and three probably and six damaged with six more destroyed and 20 damaged on the ground. We lost six aircraft'. Shipping near Emden and in the Ems Estuary was attacked by Typhoons, a 4000-tonner being probably sunk and another large vessel left badly damaged, a bomb through the stern having caused an explosion. A number of merchant ships were hit in the Ems Estuary and quayside buildings and warehouses were severely damaged.

ATTACKS CONTINUE

LONDON, April 26.

R.A.F. bombers last night attacked an oil storage depot at Vallo in Oslo Fiord. Attacks were also made on a transformer station at Pasing, near Munich, and the naval base at Kiel. The Air Ministry reports that one aircraft is missing from the raids on Vallo, Pasing and Kiel and last night’s intruder operations over Germany.

AUSTRIAN TARGETS

RUGBY, April 26

R.A.F. Liberators on Thursday struck at the enemy’s diminishing transportation facilities by attacking a motor transport depot at Tarvisio—--18 miles south-west of Villarch in Austria, and a small railyard at Sashsburg, eight miles west of Spital in Southern Austria, cables a Rome correspondent. Extr.emely bad weather curtailed operations by the Tactical Air Forces.

SHIPPING BOMBED

RUGBY, April 26

R.A.F. Coastal Command aircraft in bright moonlight on Wednesday night attacked enemy shipping from the Hook of Holland to the Heligoland Bight, as well as in the Skagerrat, sa'ys the Air Ministry. Most of the attacks were made in the face of intense flak. In Heligoland Bight a coaster was left in flames following a cannon attack by Beaufighters. A Wellington bombed one of a group of 10 vessels off the eastern Frisans and afterwards the rear-gunner saw a billowing column of grey smoke. A Halifax straddled a small merchantman in the Skagerrat. but the crew were unable to see the result of the attack. In Sande Fiord another Halifax from the same squadron obtained hits on a floating clock which was probably set on fire.

GERMAN PLANE CAPTURED

RUGBY, April 26

One of German’s latest type of secret list planes, the jet-propelled AR 234, has been captured almost intact on the Ninth Army front after it crash-landed in no mans land. The pilot was killed. The plane is being sent to Britain for examination.

GOERING’S HEART TROUBLE

LONDON, April 26

The Hamburg radio said that Goering has asked Hitler to relieve him of'his command of the Luftwaffe because of his serious heart trouble. The Hamburg radio added: “Goering is suffering from heart disease, which has entered an acute stage. He therefore asked to be relieved of the command of the Luftwaffe and all duties connected therewith, because at this moment the full harnessing of all his strength is needed. The Fuehrer granted the request and appointed Colonel-General Ritter von Greim as new Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, promoting him to Field-Marshal.”

V BOMB VICTIMS.

SOME NOTABLE TRAGEDIES

(Rec. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 26. It is revealed that V2 rocket bombs killed a total of 2754 and seriously injured 6523. The first rocket fell on the evening of September 8 at Epping. About 1200 V2’s (longrange rockets) fell in Southern England and London, which was the target for the rockets as for the earlier flying bombs, says the Press Association. The V2 bombs are finished, but the scars of sorrow they caused remain. They caused havoc on the way to London by falling short, especially in Essex. Hertfordshire and Kent. The attack reached its “Veescendo” during one week in February, during which 71 were dropped on Southern England. Totals of 50 to 60 weekly were common throughout January, February and March. The worst incidents were: Firstly, at New Cross, where 167 were killed when a rocket at lunch time fell in a crowded chain store; secondly, at Stepney, where a block of flats was reduced to rubble and 133 people were killed; thirdly, at Farringdon Market, near Dudgate Circus, one day in March, when the stalls were crowded with shoppers and 115 people were killed; and fourthly, at Deptford, where )a surface shelter was wrecked, 50 nearby flats destroyed and more than 50 people were killed. Among buildings destroyed was Whitefield’s Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road. Seven American soldiers were killed when a rocket fell on the side of Selfridge’s store in Oxford Street and a taxi-cab was blown into the shop. The occupants of the cab were never found. A rocket fell neai - the Hyde Park speakers’ corner at the Marble Arch, wffiich was crowded on Sunday afternoons but was practically deserted when the rocket fell at 7.30 a.m., only one being killed. The doctors' quarters at Chelsea Royal Hospital in which army prisoners live received a direct hit. Some of the rockets burst in the air. The last rocket fell at Orpington on the evening of March 27. The earlier rockets were radiocontrolled until they started falling towards Southern England, and the latest type had an auomatic device which cut out the fuel supply at a determined height. A new' type of flying bomb is believed to have been launched against England early in March. Airmen estimated its speed at. 800 miles an hour.