RADIO FACTORY BOMBED

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1943, Page 5

RADIO FACTORY BOMBED

In South Germany NO PLANES LOST. [British Official Wireless! RUGBY, June 21. An Air Ministry communique states: “Last night, a force of Lancasters of the Bomber Command penetrated deep into Southern GerJnany to attack the' Luftschiffabu i radio factory at Friedrichshafen. The | factory makes radio location equipment and is one of th e largest of its kind in Germanv.” Air photographs of the radio location works taken, to-day, showed that all the main buildings including the hangar were hit some very seriously damaged. Neutral reports speak of the severity of the raid and states that a fire was burning to-day. It is now known that three bombers reported missing from the attack on Friedrichshafen have landed safelv . The Berne radio reported that British planes dropped bombs on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance. Three were killed and one injured in one village. Incendiaries fell near Frauenfended. It is recalled that French aircraft ’.raided Friedrichshafen in the early stages of the war. The works which before the war were famous for Zenoelin manufacture, are bv far the largest producer of radio location equipment in Germanv and the Germans have never been so dependent on radio location as now. Massive attacks by the R.A.F. on the Ruhr and other targets in Germanv and occupied Europe make it imperative for the Germans to extend the number of radio location stations. Although Friedrichshafen has a population of only 30,000 the ratio of industries to workers is one of the highest in Germanv. , . , The attack was concentrated on a raid of long duration, says an eyewitness account from Berne. Friedrichshafen is on Lake Constance on the Swiss border. Sirens sounded at one a.m., and immediately afterwards the first bombers were over the target. Other formations followed in continuous, succession. Concentrated bombing on the chosen target were carried' out, the bombers loose numerous high explosives and incendiaries. The .detonations shook houses on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance and fires were vis; ible until dawn. Blow after blow fell on the target until two a.m., when the raid suddenly ended.

HARDSHIPS IN GERMANY, PEOPLE’S HIGHLY NERVOUS STATE. (Rec. 7.30.) LONDON, June 22., An announcer on the Berlin radio described the state of “high nervous tension” caused in Germany by Allied raids. He said: “Most people have a suitcase packed, ready for emergencies. Great hardships and great problems have been caused for everyone by the increasing of AnaloAmerican terror raids against Germany. Lodgings are getting scarcer. The clothing problem is acute. We have behind us a winter which has tried our nerves to the utmost, and has demanded the extreme concentration of our powers.”