DAMAGE TO PLANT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21303, 15 January 1944, Page 3

DAMAGE TO PLANT

PRODUCTION IMPAIRED

U.S. LOSSES “WORTH IT

(British Ollicial Wireless.) RUGBY, Jan. 1

In Tuesday’s American air attacks the Halverstadt plant, where wings are constructed for Germany's newest two-engined bombers carrying radiocontrolled glider bombs, was "very heavily damaged,” said Mr H. L. Stimson, United (States .Secretary of War. The United States losses were "relatively big,’’ but the damage to German lighter production was worth it.

The Oscherslenben attack struck at a most important centre of roexeWulf construction, representing about half the total production of tins type of lighter. Every building but one was probably destroyed at the iViesserschmitt 110 plant at Brunswick, The Americans have already replaced the planes and air crews lost in me great air b_.„.ie over Germany on Tuesday, says tne Evening Stanuards’ correspondent with the United States forces. The great replacements depots arrange replacements within 24 hours. The United States Army official newspaper Stars and Stripes, announced that the delay in assessing results was due to a fog which unexpectedly settled over the airfields before the raiders returned home. Many bombers had to be diverted to distant airfields and it is believed that some at present listed as missing may have landed in more isolated parts oi Britain. R.A.F. fighters on offensive patrol over Northern France shot down eight enemy aircraft. One R.A.F. fighter is missing.