Drop 17,000 Toes Of Bombs On Ruhr Since May 23

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1943, Page 3

Drop 17,000 Toes Of Bombs On Ruhr Since May 23

(Rec. - noon.) LONDON, June 27. Considerable strengthening of the defences of Western Germany, and a great evacuation of the same area show the severe effects of Royal Air Force raids. The Germans are putting a nightfighter into the air for every bomber we are sending over the Ruhr—a standard of defence not dreamt of six months ago, says the aviation correspondent of the British United Press. Amazing Bombing Achievement

Twelve major raids on the Ruhr and the Rhineland since May 23 add up to a most amazing bombing achievement. It is estimated that more than 17,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on targets where the population totals 5,000,000. Goering, to secure this effect, would have needed to bomb London for 54 nights successively on the scale of his biggest raid —one in which 500 tons of bombs were dropped on 8.000,000 people. We lost 334 aircraft in 12 raids. This is a considerable loss, but the fact that we are able to employ such forces and suffer such losses, yet maintain bombing, indicates the rate of production of our factories. The losses have been due mainly to the enormous concentration of fighter planes over the Ruhr. Washington Is Optimistic Washington observers believe that the 1000 fighter planes which Mr Elmer Davis says Germany has assembled in the Ruhr in an effort to check the Royal Air Force’s blows, comprise more than half the Germans’ total fighter strength. Observers consider the Allies are well on the way to winning the Battle of Europe. They say the weight of Allied air blows is greater than the most optimistic forecasts of two months ago. Predictions of victory have been revised sharply upward because of the devastating results' of Allies’ systematic and scientific aerial bombardment. Fourth in Five Nights The R.AF. finished a week’s continuous night bombing iwith yet another attack in the Ruhr area, the fourth in five nights. The objective was the Bochum-Gelsenkirchen district, which lies in the heart of the Ruhr, and the defences of Essen, Duisburg, Krefeld, Mulheim and Oberhausen, towns heavily bombed in recent attacks, went into action. An intense barrage came up, but the huge searchlight belt of the Ruhr was handicapped because of cloud, and different tactics from those used in recent raids had to be employed. Instead of trying to cone the bombers, the Germans directed searchlights to the base of the clouds so that bombers would be clearly silhouetted and picked up by fighters. There were running fights all along the route from the Belgian coast through to the Ruhr and back again. Despite cloud, the night never became very dark, but enemy fighters were no more successful in stopping the bombers than on the previous night, and clouds over the target were soon glowing from fires. 1000 German Fighter Planes

Bochum and Gelsenkirchen have each a population of about 300,000, and many coal mines. Bochum is the centre of the most prolific part of the Ruhr coal basin, while Gelsenkirchen is the chief steam-coalmining centre. Both have many important factories. There is a big steel industry at Bochum, while Gelsenkirchen also produces steel and has two of the largest synthetic oil plants in the Reich. Some of the most important railway communications pass through the district. According to the Director of the United States Office of War Information (Mr. Elmer Davis) more than 1000 fighter planes and 30,000 anti-aircraft guns have been assembled in the Ruhr, and Allied losses during the (week have been heavy. They amounted to 173 bombers, of which 38 were American, and the loss of about 15,000 highlytrained men. The Germans probably lost a good many more aircraft in the week. Spitfires in Action Three enemy fighters (two M.E. 10s and one F.W. 190) were destroyed by Spitfires without loss in a sweep over Northern France today. West of St. Omer a Canadian wing spotted 30 Focke-Wulfs coming head-on and tried to engage them. The Germans tried to evade action, but the Spitfires came up with some. Other enemy fighters were also met in the St. Omer area. , R.A.F. fighters crossed the Channel this evening in the direction of France. There was a quiet day here yesterday and it is now known that at least 25 Axis aircraft were destroyed in Friday’s big attack on Messina and fires in the ferry terminal are stiil burning. Over Northern France Enemy airfields in Northern France were again targets for light bombers and fighterbombers early on Saturday evening. Typhoon bombers, attacking Bernay airfield, about 40 miles south of Le Havre, went through a gap in the clouds. Bursts were seen on buildings, hangars and dispersal pens. One bomb fell on a large aircraft on the- ground and others near twin-engined aircraft. Escorting Typhoon fighters described bombing results as good. All got back safely. Other Typhoon fighter-bombers swept over marshalling yards at Eu, near Le Treport, and were also escorted by fighters. Hits were scored on sidings and station. Visibility was exceptionally good. No enemy fighters ■were seen and all aircraft returned safely.

Bostons,. with Spitfire escort, attacked an airfield at Abbeville. A number of formations of American heavy bombers and R.A.F. light bombers in daylight on Saturday attacked enemy airfields and industrial targets in France. Some heavy bombers encountered adverse Weather. Those which, were unable clearly to identify the targets did not drop bombs. The majority of heavy bombers were not escorted and had many combats, destroying a considerable number of enemy planes. Thunderbolts supporting other bombers also had numerous combats, shooting down throe enemy planes. Many squadrons of R.A.F.. Dominion and Allied fighters participated in these operations. Five of our bombers and seven of our fighters are missing. One fighter pilot is safe. Major-General Davenport-Johnson, commander of the Second United States Air Force stated at Washington that the Germans have thrown everything they have against American heavy bombers but are unable to inflict critical losses. American losses in the European theatre are approximately six per cent which is not too heavy. Major-General Johnson added: “If we can stay under 10 per cent we can take it.” Housing Shortage Acute "The housing shortage is only one of many problems resulting from British and American raids,” said Dr Behr over Berlin radio. “These terror raids are- the topic everywhere in factories, offices, workshops and barracks alike. Everyone who has seen ruined streets in the west realise that all careful planning has been completely upset by the extent of destruction. Emergency and temporary measures must suffice. Nobody will describe them as ideal, or perhaps even tolerable, according to normal standards. I have seen four and five room flats where three or four families are housed. It is becoming more evident that defence measures and a terrible inevitable reckoning are now among the main preoccupations of our leaders.” , German Non-Combatants To Be Evacuated The Allied air offensive is so devastating that the German housing director (Dr. Ley) has ordered evacuation from Western Germany of all the superfluous population. The order includes wa*nen, children, veteran workers, invalids, and the aged and infirm. st.A.F.’s Balance Sheet f .The aviation correspondent of the “Daily .Express” estimates that the