HUGE R.A.F RAID

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1943, Page 4

HUGE R.A.F RAID

BIGGEST YET ON EUROPE

RUHR & BERLIN HIT Attack on Czechoslovakia 34 BOMBERS MISSING. LONDON, May 14. Royal Air Force bombers from Britain last night dropped the biggest tonnage of bombs yet on Europe, raiding the Rhur, Czechoslovakia, and Berlin. This attack followed the previous night’s raid on Duisburg, when 1500 tons, the heaviest load up till then, was dropped. More than 1,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the Rhur alone, the chief target being Bochum, an important arms and transport centre. Bochum’s war plants turn out high grade steels, machine tools, guns, and tanks, and, in addition, the city is the centre of a prolific coal-produc-ing area. The raid was packed into threequarters of an hour, during which time a huge pall of smoke covered the city. Fires were still burning there this morning when aircraft, which had raided Czechoslovakia, were on their way home. The target in Czechoslovakia has not yet been disclosed. The last big raid in Czechoslovakia was on the Skoda works at Pilsen a month ago. The raid on Berlin took place just after midnight, the lakes round the capital guiding aircraft to their targets. Bombs were dropped in the western and south-western parts of the city. . 1 Thirty-four aircraft are missing from the night’s widespread raids. “The raids on ■ Germany and Czechoslovakia last night were the most widespread the Bomber Command has ever carried out,” states the aviation correspondent of the British United Press.

“It is estimated that over 4,000 tons of bombs were dropped on enemy territory in the last twenty-four hours. The objectives included railway stations and junctions, munition factories, seaplane and land aeroplane bases, shipping, harbours, communications, and iron and steel plants.”

WIDESPREAD RAIDS BY U.S. ’PLANES.

LONDON, May 14

United States bombers to-aay set a new record for their offensive from Britain. The largest .American force yet sent from Butain raided targets m Germany, Holland and Belgium. A strong force of Liberators and Flying Fortresses flew 460 miles unescorted to attack the great German naval base at Kiel. Other heavy bombers attacked the General Motors plant at Antwerp, and a third formation bombed tne large lighter airfield and repair depot at Courtrai. American medium bombers made their first raid from Britain, in lowlevel attacks on industrial targets in Holland. All these medium bombers, which are of a type that cannot be disclosed, returned, although they flew unescorted. Good results are i eported from all the British, Dominion, American and other Allied lighters, which provided cover for the attacks on Courtrai and Antwerp, shot down twelve enemy lighters, and other enemy machines were destroyed by the bombers. From all the raids eleven bombers and four fighters are missing. Britain’s new Typhoon bomber is in the news. Machines of this type attacked a Nazi airfield twenty miles south-east of Le Havre. Spitfires attacked enemy shipping near Guernsey, and Mustangs of Army Cooperation Command destroyed an enemy fighter. One Spitfire and one Mustang are missing.

Biggest U.S. Raid Yet TARGET HIT AT EMDEN. (Rec. 6.30) E.O.W. RUGBY, May io. American Headquarters in Britain announces; The largest lorce of heavy bombers despatched to date over Germany by the United States Eighth Air Force attacked a large water-borne terminal and harbour installations at Emden, and other targets in North-west Germany, by daylight to-day. Good bombing results were observed, despite adverse weather conditions. Strong fighter opposition was encountered and many enemy planes were destroyed and damaged by/ the bombers, which were unescorted. Squadrons of U.S.A.A.F. fighters carried out diversionary sweeps. Six bombers are missing, “To-day’s American bombing broke the record set up only yesterday b.v the daylight raids on Velsen, Kiel, Antwerp, and Courtrai. The Air Ministry says: “Squadrons of fighters escorted and covered Mitchells, Bostons, and Typhoons attacking airfields at Caen Poix, without loss this afternoon.” Seven enemy fighters were destroyed by our fighters, six of which are missing.