HEAVY BATTERING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 20 April 1944, Page 3

HEAVY BATTERING

PARIS RAILWAYS

TARGETS AT ROUEN RECORD RXF. ATTACK (11 a.m.) RUGBY, April 19. Dropping a record weight of over 4000 tons of bombs, the Royal Air Force’ Bomber Command despatched more than 10000 aircraft last night. The greater part of the force attacked railway targets in France, says the Air Ministry. “Heavy attacks were made on railway yards and workshops at Noisy le Sec and Juvisy, on the outskirts of Paris, and at Rouen and Tergnier. Mosquitoes attacked Berlin and objectives in western Germany. Fourteen aircraft of the Bomber Command are missing. “Beaufighters of the Coastal Command attacked, two armed trawlers off the Frisian Islands, sank one and left the other sinking.” ■ Two of the'targets were attacked mainly by Lancasters and two mainly by Halifaxes. The technique of the attack was the same as in previous raids. These are keypoints of the railway system in north-west Europe. Tlie markings were designed to keep all bombs within the comparatively small area occupied by the yards and

workshops. Every possible check was 'made to ensure a concentration of bombing well within the limits of the target. The character and range of the attack account, for the greatly increased bomb’tonnage as, in a closerange attack, the load of four-engined aircraft can be stepped up. Reconnaissance of the railway targets which have recently been attacked shows how great was the accuracy with which the area of a very few acres were marked and how close the bombs have fallen to the markers. Photographs which have already been plotted of last night’s attacks show that the bombs must have hit a bullseye. Clouds of smoke can be seen on the yards at Noisy le Sec and Juvisy, both to the east of Paris. Rouen, another of last night’s targets, lies on the direct water and rail route between Paris, Le Havre and. Dieppe. These three targets, together with the yards at Tergnier, have very important facilities on 'which the enemy has relied greatly for repairing damaged or worn-out locomotives and wagons. The Paris radio reports that the southern.and eastern suburbs of Paris were bombed last night.