New “Rocket Planes” Over Duisburg

Northern Advocate, 23 May 1944, Page 5

New “Rocket Planes” Over Duisburg

(Received 1.30 p.m.) (8.0. W.) RUGBY. May 22,

Swarms of enemy fighters came up to defend Duisburg last night when che German inland port was attacked shortly after 1 a.m. by a strong force of which dropped wed over 2000 tons of high explosives and incendiary bombs. Crews reported the use of a new type of “rocket” flares. According to some of our crews they travelled across the sky horizontally, burning out in an explosion. "The flares moved across the sky,”

said a bomb-aimer in a Lancaster. "They dropped from various heights, and did not appear to be attached to parachutes. One, giowing with orange light, fell some distance away and moved towards us before dropping several thousand feet and exploding.” Another bomb-aimer said: "One flare was dropped below us and moved from the port side to starboard. Another, which dropped weli ahead, shot well away to our rear. They seemed to be going about the same speed as a rocket. They shot out red sparks and exploded with a bright red glow, which lit up quite a large area.” Marauders on Monday afternoon attacked military objectives in northern France, including an airfield at Beaumont Le Roger. They were escorted by Thunderbolts and lightnings. None of ours is missing. No flak and no fighter opposition was encountered. There was slight enemy activity last night in parts of north and north-east Scotland and south-east England. Bombs were dropped at one point in Kent. Little damage but some casualties were caused. More Transport Raids

The Allied air forces continued widespread attacks against German transport communications. The R.A.F. and units of the Allied expeditionary force carried out many attacks against trains and locomotives and also strafed military lorries and staff cars. Fighter-bombers concentrated or railway yards and other transport facilities. Fighters escorted tactical medium bombers operating against smaller targets. A Canadian pilot participating in one of the many of these transport attacks. said he saw literally hunderds of planes over Northern France. None of them were hostile and met no opposition except flak. The U.S.A.A.F. communique states that Fortresses, under escort of Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Lightnings, today attacked targets at Kiel in the vicinity of the German naval base, and submarine construction, yards. Cur fighters, in addition to escort duties, went on strafing missions and engaged a number of enemy planes over their own airfields. They reported the destruction of 22 German fighters. Liberators attacked enemy installations in the Fas de Calais area and met no opposition. Thunderbolts in the afternoon strafed locomotives and trains and attacked a number of railway bridges in Belgium. Five of our bombers and eight fighters have not returned. Duisberg Heavily Attacked

R.A.F. .bombers last night very heavily attacked'Duisberg, states an Air Ministry communique. Raiders also bombed objectives in Hanover, and an airfield in Belgium. An extensive programme ol' minelaying also was carried out. Thirty planes are missing.

Duisberg was last heavily raided on May 12, 1943. after which the Air Ministry reported that practically the whole city’s commercial and administrative centre had been laid in ruins. Duisberg, local point of Germany’s communications system, is also.a big industrial centre. Fierce combats against German fighterpacks occurred over Duisberg last night, says the Air Ministry news service. The R.A.F. met little opposition on the way to Duisberg. and German fighte/.s did net arrive over the town until after the first bombs had gone down. Then fighter flares were dropped and fights went on over the town, also for many miles on the way home. One pilot said the fighters pursued Hie force back over the sea. There was thick cloud over the target, estimated as nearly four miles high. German radio stations early today reported major Allied bomber formations over North-western Germany.

R.C.A.F. Spitfires on offensive patrol over Northern France and the Low Countries this morning, destroyed four enemy aircraft and damaged at least one F.W. 190. and shot up four railway engines. All the Spitfires returned safely.