BERLIN AGAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 29, 3 January 1944, Page 5

BERLIN AGAIN

ATTACK BY LANCASTERS EFFECTIVE BOMBING (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, Jan. 2. An Air Ministry communique states that last night Lancasters .of the Bomber Command in great strength attacked Berlin. The weather prevented the immediate observation of results, but first reports indicate that the target area was effectively marked and bombed. Other aircraft attacked Hamburg, Western Germany, and Northern France. Twenty-eight of our aircraft are missing. No air activity over Britain was reported last night. Details of Berlin’s ninth major attack since November 18 were filled in to-day on a chart headed “Battle of Berlin” in the intelligence room of Bomber Command Headquarters. The attack was timed in the early hours of the morning to avoid the moon. Cloud and a high wind were additional hazards. This meant that skilled airmanship and navigation were needed, with very careful routing and timing. It was an allLancaster force and well over 1000 tons of bombs were dropped. The main enemy night fighter disposition does not seem to have reached Berlin, where tlie enemy relied on intense flak, but fighters mot the' bomber stream about 150 miles from the target and again on the way back near the French coast. Many of the crews reported that they saw no fighters or fighter flares on the route or over the target. The weather apparently stopped the Germans massing a large number of fighters. A feint attack on Hamburg and a light attack on Western Germany also confused them.

The attack began at 3 a.m. Cloud over Berlin was up to' 8000 ft, with thin layers higher still. The bombing was op both sky and ground markers, and by 3.15 a.m. columns of smoke were rising above the main cloud-hank. The searchlights were blanketed by clouds. The flak, which was heavy and light, was in barrage form.

A pilot said that when approaching the target a great yellowish-red glow came up through the cloud and lasted long enough to show that there liacl been a very big explosion. Though the cloud was thick in places, ho was able to bomb on ground markers which showed up well. Since the Battle of Berlin began well over 13,000 tons of high explosive and incendiary bombs have been dropped on the capital. With its 18,000 acres of densely built-up-areas and much larger area of suburbs, the Bomber Command clearly recognises that the battle has by no means reached the closing stages, but since the R.A.F. is able to operate effectively in such weather as that last night at a range of over 600 miles the omens arc regarded as favourable. UTMOST RESOURCE NEEDED. Nearly 7000 tons of bombs were dropped on Berlin in the four great attacks in December. Each stage oi the Buttle of Berlin involves an aerial battle, and against such a deeply defended target the attacker must show the utmost resource in achieving concentration of bombing and avoiding heavy'casualties. For every aircraft lost in the four attacks 70 tons off'bombs 101 lon the Reich capital.—Official Wireless. To-day’s German communique, quoted 'by the -Press Association, said: “Damage, particularly to dwelling houses, was .caused.” The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm A ftonbludet reports that the R.A.l'.’s main targets were the industrial outer districts. ■ On Thursday Allied planes attacked the important Cam hall-bearing factories of Ivry and Bois-Colombos near Paris, and the airfields at Chateau Bernard and St. Jean Dangely near Cognac in Western France. In aerial combats 17 enemy aircraft were destroyed by the heavy bombers and 11 by fighters. From these operations 29 bombers and three fighters are missing. There is no further official news about the South-West Gorman target, tho Americans bombed on Thursday, but neutral sources name Mannheim. The large-scale air offensive against the enemy in Northern France was continued on Friday. Large waves of fighters and bombers passed over the south-east coast of England in the morning. The formation comprised machines flying at all heights with the fighters wave-hopping and the bombers out of sight in the mist. AMERICANS’ RECORD MONTH. All records of bombs and aircraft dispatched were broken in December by American bombers operating from Britain. ’Jen major operations wore conducted, seven against Germany and throe, in France. Heavy bombers dropped over 12,000 tons, more than twice the November load, and nearly 35 per cent, of the total of the entire previous 16 months. A total of 167 heavy bombers was lost or 2.6 per cent, of the total aircraft dispatched. The average loss for the previous 16 months was 3.8. The year’s losses wore 976 bombers which was well under 4 per .pent. of those dispatched. A total of 3465 enemy fighters was destroyed, 837 probably destroyed and 1591 damaged. Bremen received 6165 tons of bombs, Emden 3219, Wilhemlshaven 2647 and Kiel 1900. Lieut.-Cciieral Eakcr, commanding tho Eighth U.S.A.A.F., broadcasting, said German tighter plane production had been cut by 40 per cent, since July.