U.S.A. RAIDS IN TYROL

Grey River Argus, 22 December 1943, Page 5

U.S.A. RAIDS IN TYROL

INNSBRUCK REPEATEDLY ATTACKED. LONDON, Dec. 20. Sunday’s day raid by American bombers in Southern Germany was mainly directed by Fortresses at Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian Tyrol. Other bombers attacked targets in the town of Augsburg, where Messerschmitt aircraft are built. Eleven of the Allied bombers failed to return to the base, some are believed to be safe. In Innsbruck many bursts were seen on railway yards. Liberators escorted by Lightnings,. dropped bombs on Augsburg, 35 miles nortnwest of Munich. The bombs were dropped through heavy clouds. The raiders were met by one of the largest enemy fighter forces in recent weeks. Aoout 100 ME’s and FWs took the air to attack. The Fortresses, Liberators and the Lightning escort knocked down 37 of them and probably destroyed 22 others in tne greatest aerial victory of the montn. The Innsbruck air defences were taken completely by surprise. An eye-witness quoted by a news agency said: Bombers crashed on the middle of the main station and marshalling yards, where many hundreds of goods wagons and several dozen locomotives were standing. Fifteen minutes later extensive fires were raging and they spread to the large International Hotel near the main station. Twelve hours later railway officials announced that traffic was impossible over a stretch of railway. FURTHER RAID BY BRITISH BOMBERS. (Rec. 1.0). LONDON, Dec. 21. The German News Agency reports that British bombers dropped high explosives and incendiaries; at several places in South-west Germany on Monday night, Earlier Raids BY FORTRESSES. LONDON, Dec. 19. A Reuter correspondent says that Flying Fortresses recently crossed to Tyrol to bomb the railway centre of Innsbruck for th e first time. They covered the yards with high explosives. Innsbruck also has an airfield, engineering works, textile factories, and a hydro-electric power statloThe British United Press declared that heavy air raids against Innsbruck and neighbouring centres knocked out the Brenner Pass at least temporarily. RUQBY

The Innsbruck air defences were taken completely by surprise m the rcent United States bombers’ raid, says an eye-witness quoted by a news agency. Bombers crashed on the middle of the main station and marshalling yards, where many hundreds ot goods waggons and several dozen locomotives were standing. Fifteen minutes later extensive fires were raging, and they spread to the large International Hotel near the main station. Twelve hours later railway .officials announced that, traffic was impossible over a stretch of railway. He learned that the damage at Bolzano far exceeded that at Innsbruck.

SOFIA AGAIN BOMBED. LONDON, Dec. 20.

The Budapest radio stated that bombers in daylight to-day attacked Folia. The sirens sounded at 12.20 p.m. The bombers flew at great height over the city. . The alarm previously sounded last night. Several planes were over Sofia' during the alert.

RAIDS IN ENGLAND. (Rec. 1.0.) LONDON, Dec. 21. There was slight enemv air activity over South-east England on Monday night. Bombs were dropned at a few points. They caused some damage and a small number of casualties.