GREATEST EVER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 121, 20 April 1944, Page 5

GREATEST EVER

ONSLAUGHT ON EUROPE ENOEMOUS - 130MB-LOAD (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (11.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 29.. Probably no fewer than (5000 Allied bombers and lighters struck shattering blows against Axis Eur- , ope in the 36 hours to darkness tonight, states the Press Association's air correspondent. The tonnage of the boiiihs discharged must he at least 8000.

Never has such an onslaught been launched from the air. Vital Luftwaffe and invasion targets were obliterated in the mightiest offensive ever known. The following is a summary of the latest operations : Yesterday in daylight nearly 2000 bombers arid fighters struck deeply into Germany including Jierlin. Marauders attacked a rail centre in Belgium and other targets on the northern coast of France, while other planes attacked military objectives in Northern France. Yesterday at night-time, 1000 R.A.F. planes attacked targets in France on the outskirts of Paris and Rouen when a record weight of over 4000 tons of bombs was dropped. Mosquitoes went to Berlin. To-day in daylight, nearly 2000 bombers and fighters attacked Cassel aircraft works and other targets. Three big separate operations occurred over France. Finally waves of R.A.F. fighters crossed the struts of Dover in the evening in a series of sorties.

How long the German air force can withstand this unsurpassed scale of air bombardment is a question intriguing aviation circles. Many believe that if the good bombing weather holds the Luftwaffe can virtually be smashed in a matter of two to three weeks from now. The correspondent adds-: "I am assured that the present terrific scale of the Allied blows can not only be maintained but stepped up."