1700 Tons In Two-fold Berlin Raid

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1943, Page 3

1700 Tons In Two-fold Berlin Raid

(8.0. W. 11 a.m.) RUGBY. Aug. 24. FIRES WERE STILL BURNING IN BERLIN THIS MORNING J- OLLOWING LAST NIGHT’S ROYAL AIR FORCE ATTACK ON THE GERMAN CAPITAL WHEN 17C0 TONS OF BOMBS WERE PROPPED IN 50 MINUTES. THIS IS TWICE AS HEAVY AS ANY PREVIOUS ATTACK ON BERLIN. Eombing was highly concentrated ana pilots report that the raid was an outstanding success. A number oi enemy fighters were destroyed both en route and over the target. Fighter Command assisted in the operation with widespread harassing attacks on airfields in Germany and occupied territory. Enemy fighter opposition was extremely fierce over Berlin and along the bombers’ return route. Fifty-eight bombers and one fighter are missing. Mosquito bombers- last night heavily attacked Berlin, an earlier message stated. It was the Royal Air Force’s 73rd raid on the German capital.

Eerlin radio says that raiders attacked some localities in Northern Germany, particularly Berlin, with high explosives and incendiaries causing casualties and damage to residential quarters. The radio claims that at least 50 bombers were shot down. Strong Defences <- I have never seen so many fighters," said one pilot, who had taken part in most of tlae big raids on the Ruhr and Hamburg, on his return from Berlin last night. "There were about 20 belts of searchlights inside the capital and around it. These were co-operating with fighters. We streaked across the beams as fast as we could and a searchlight came after us, chasing us across the sky. We got through them all right, and, just as we were going to bomb, a tighter came for us and I had to take evasive action. Fights were going on all over the place.” The rear-gunner of a Halifax, whose aircraft was one of the first to attack, said that the guns did not open up until bombing had actually begun. “We did not see any flak at all until we had finished the bombing run and, even when the ground gunners did start, fire was not particularly heavy. But there were numerous fighters, some flying with navigation lights on." The pilot of a Stirling spoke of a huge explosion as he was making his way out of the target area. "It seemed right in the centre of the city and must have been something really big." Other pilots reported much cloud along the route, but it. cleared before Berlin was reached and visibility over the target was excellent. Smoke from fires was reported as high as 15,000 ' feet. Smoke Palls Blitzed City A huge, solid block of white cloud, tinged with Grey. four miles high, completely obliterated almost all Berlin from the air. according to an R.A.F. reconnaissance pilot, who was over the city at 8.30 a.m. today. Fie said that smoke from last night's raid could be seen 200 miles away. "We approached Berlin from the east, flying at 20,000 ft. A westerly wind was blowing towards me. Huge columns of smoke were coming mainly from the centre of the city. Only one or two districts, such as Wilmcrsclorf and Charlottenburg, were visible It was evident from the smoke that there were fires everywhere in and around the centre of the city. The heat of the fires was sending the smoke up to form a solid cloud. There was a greyish tinge to the white cloud, showing that fires were still burning It was the best ‘ prang ’ I have ever seen. The smoke was better than anti-aircraft fire and much better than Dusseldorf on June 13. Great craters could be seen in the western part of the city, which was partly visible. The northern sector was clear of smoke. We were scarcely fired at.’’ Nights Now Long Enough The Air Ministry says the crews themselves were very confident about the results of their massive bombardment of file capital. They spoke of huge fires which they could see 100 miles from Berlin on the way home, ot several very big explosions and a pall of smoke three miles high. The Germans had long prepared plans to meet the attack they knew would come as soon as the nights were long enough to enable our aircraft to get to Berlin and attack in the darkness. 18,000 Drowned At Hamburg

It is now revealed, says Reuter's Zurich correspondent, that 18,000 persons were drowned when the Elbe tunnel received a direct hit during the recent heavy raid on Hamburg. The tunnel links the thickly-populated districts of Altona and St. Pauli with the great dockyard centre. Paris radio stated that British and American planes raided Paris this evening causing many civilian deaths and destroying houses. Earlier, Paris radio stated that British and American planes bombed Paris region during the afternoon. Berlin has been “Hamburged," says a correspondent of the British United Press at a British bomber base. For 42 minutes last night four-engined E.A.F. bombers rained down 1800 tons of bombs on the German capital. There was a mass of flames within, four square miles. It was probably the biggest four-engined bomber raid of the war.

When our planes turned away from the target members of the crew could see Berlin burning like a terch. and at 258 miles from the target, there was still a red glow in the sky.

Five thousand members of the R.A.F. participated in the raid. The Exchange Telegraph's correspondent says the loss of 58 bombers was the largest the R.A.F. has suffered in a night raid but. unfortunately, must be expected with the growing intensity of bombing raids. Berlin radio staled that British and American planes participated in the raid, but it is officially denied in London that any American planes took part. Berlin radio said a considerable number of attackers were met by night fighters before they reached the outskirts of ihe city and were thus prevented from developing the . attack according to plan. The raiders dropped high explosives and incendiaries at random on various residential districts, added the radio.

Outstanding Success Group-Captain Hughie Edwards, V.C., D. 5.0., who now commands a station where there is an Australian squadron, was out last night with the squadron. He said that in his experience—and he has taken part in most big raids in the war—the attack on Berlin was an outstanding success.