THREE MAIN CENTRES

Grey River Argus, 23 December 1943, Page 5

THREE MAIN CENTRES

Seventy-five Planes Lost (■xust. N.Z. Press Assn.] LONDON, Dec. 21. On Monday night K.A.F. bombers raided Frankfurt, Mannheim and Ludwigshaven and other places in Germany, while on Tuesday American bombers raided Bremen. At the height of the attack bombs must have fallen at the rate of about 70 tons a minute. Eight thousans pounders, as well as a great number of 4000-pounders were dropped. It was one of the earliest attacks in recent months, beginning at 7.30 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m., although Mosquitoes arrived about naif an hour later to bomb and hinder the work of the fire brigades. Smoke continued to rise from Frankfurt as the crews flew back until it reached 14,000 ft. While the main force of heavy bombers, Lancasters and Halifaxes, were attacking Frankfurt another force of Lancasters was bombing Mannheim and Ludwigshaven to such effect ’that smoke was soon rising 12,000 feet. This attack, nearly. 50 miles south of the main target split the great force of night fighters which swarmed over the lipper Rhineland from all over Germany. Fighters were seen racing back and forward between the two targets. Mosquitoes bombed targets in Western Germany ana - Belgium Mines were laid in enemy waters. Canadian aircraft attacked shipping in the Channel. From all these operations 42 aircraft are missing. On Tuesday United States heavy bombers made a day raid on Bremen. They were escorted by long-range fighters. The enemy lost 40 fighters and the United States forces lost 25 bombers and eight fighters. American bombers raided targets in Northern France on Monday. Sir A. Harris received the followin g message from Sir A. Sinclair: '•'The Prime Minister, who has been receiving full details of recent operations, asked me to convey his congratulations to the crews who have taken part in the series of great battles over Berlin. Leinsig. and the associated attacks.” Sir A. Harris replying, wished Mr. Churchill a speedily convalescence and return. Lively engagements against greatly superior formations of enemy aircraft were fought in the Bav of Biscay by two Liberators onerafin" with the Coastal Command. A British Liberator, cantained by Wing Commander A. E. Cloustpn, D.F.C., a New Zealander, famous as a prewar test nilot, was on anti-submarine patrol when it was intercented by four twin-engined aircraft believed to he JU 88’s and had a 50-minute combat with them in the half moonlight. Clouston said: “My gunners saved the day for us by reporting th« enemv position smartly each time they attacked. At one time both our turrets jammed, and two members of the crew had tn swutg the top turret round bv hand. The enemy attempted one formation attack after another, but because of the fine work by the winners n«ne. of them succeeded ” fhe combat was ended when the Liberator took evasive action in the clouds. It suffered only slight damage. The other engagement took place when a Liberator of a United States Naval Squadron fought eight JU 88’s. The Liberator, after 35 minutes’ combat. 1/ft one of the Junkers diving , towards the sea ' and smoking heavily. The Liberator sustained neither casualties nor damage. 1200 TONS FOR BREMEN [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 11.0) LONDON, Dec. 22 The “Daily Express” says: It can be revealed that the American day bombers' on Monday dropped 1200 tons of bombs on Bremen. Reconnaissance photographs were taken some hours later. They showed tremendous fires and towering' columns of smoke.