Tremendous Damage to Nantes by Fortresses

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 224, 21 September 1943, Page 6

Tremendous Damage to Nantes by Fortresses

LONDON, Sept. 18. The centre of Nantes has been completely wiped out and the city is without gas, electricity and water, says the German-controlled Paris radio quoting an eye-witness account of the flying Fortress raid on Thursday. “In 45 minutes, 300 bomhs transformed the city into a heap of ruins. It is estimated that 1500 buildings were destroyed." Tho American Eighth Bomber Command Headquarters says an examination of photographs shows a newlybuilt enemy destroyer sinking in Nantes harbour. The important submarine locks and concrete shelter pens were heavily damaged at La Pallice and fires were started in the oil and coai bunkering depots. More than 500 were killed and 10,000 are homeless as the result of the Allied air raid on Nantes, said the Eerlin radio. When United States Marauders attacked the aerodrome at BeauvaisLille on Saturday morning hits were seen on the dispersal area; runway and buildings. Spitfires attacked enemy fighters but none of the latter approached the Marauders. Thirteen vessels were damaged iu R.A.F. attacks on enemy coastal shipping. on Saturday. When Typhoon 1 bombers and fighters raided shipping off the Dutch coast a harbour tug tried to run away from a fighter travelling over five miles a minute, but the tug finished on the beach in flames. Elsewhere off the Dutch coast our Typhoons destroyed a tug and a barge and left on fire, three tugs, three coasters and two barges and damaged three coasters, two tugs and 16 barges. A Dutch squadron of Mitchell bombers attacked the marshalling yards in the Rouen area. Escorting Spitfires destroyed one enemy fighter.