Rhineland Chemical Works Attacked

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1943, Page 2

Rhineland Chemical Works Attacked

(Rec. 1 n.m.) LONDON, August 23 Only at a comparatively late hour in ' the evening was it finally decided to carry out an attack on objectives in the Rhine- : 'a"d, including chemical works at Leverikusen. There was scattered cloud along {the route which thickened when the 'bombers were on the last lap. Cloud over the target protected aircraft from grou.no. defences. All the enemy guns could do; ; was to put up a blind barrage. Although, oo dark to observe lull results, clouas. • .verc seen glowing from the light or .ires underneath and soon after the attack had begun there was a great explosion which was reflected on the clouds for several seconds on the way back. _ Night--fighters had a chance, states the Air Ministry news service. A half moon helped German pilots to find our aircraft. There. were several combats. One Lancaster hud Three separate encounters within a few minutes. . , * , , . R.A.F. bombers last night attacked •objectives in the Rhineland, including chemical works at Leverkusen, north o. ! Cologne, states an Air Ministry communique. Heavy cloud made observation: difficult. Two enemy fighters were cie.'stroyed and mines were laid in enemy; waters. Fighter Command intruder patrols! It attacked railway targets on enemy air-■ {fields in France and Belgium. Five; bombers are missing. Berlin radio says that a major enemy ’; bomber formation attacked Western Ger'jmany last night. Bombs were scattered ■{aver a wide area and damaged buildings {in a number of areas. particularly ’ (Dusseldorf. _ , _ i U.S. Marauders, escorted by R.A.F.. ((Dominion and Allied Soitfires. late yesterday attacked the airfield Beaumont le: Roger. France, states an Air Ministry. 1 (communique. There were many encounters with enemy fighters, three of whicn I !were destroyed by Marauders and six nv. 1 (Spitfires. One of our medium bombers; '{and eight fighters are missing. 1 The Air Ministry states that an enemy (fighter was destroyed by Spitfires in offensive operations in Northern France on Sunday afternoon. One of ours is missing., R.A.F. fighters destroyed a Junkers 88; {over the North Sea this morning. Gieat Explcsicn j The Air Ministry has now given details: iof last night's raid on the Rhineland. It: was not until a comparatively late hour: {that a decision was made to attack the big| [chemical works north of Cologne. Our. (bombers found scattered cloud along the! (route, and this thickened on the last lap. The cloud was so heavy over the target; (that it gave protection to our aircraft; I from ground defences and all the enemy j (could do was to put up a blind barrage. I iAfter the raid clouds were seen glowing; {from the light of fires below and there; ,was one great explosion, which reflected: (on the clouds for several seconds. Ouri {bombers shot down two enemy fighters.! . Five of our aircraft are missing.