OUTSTANDINGLY SUCCESSFUL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 28 July 1942, Page 5

OUTSTANDINGLY SUCCESSFUL

MOST IMPORTANT TARGET IN GERMANY FAVOURED BY MOONLIGHT (Rec. 11.20 a.m.) Rusby, July 27. One of the outstandingly successful attacks of the whole war is how Air Vice-Marshal Harris, chief of the Bomber Command. describes last night’s great raid on Hamburg, which at the present stage of the war is probably the most important target in all Germany. The importance of the city to the Germans is made apparent by the defence system which is stated by experts to be the best in Germany.

The present full moon, states the Air Ministry News Service, is the first since the spring when the nights have been long enough to bring Hamburg within range of a heavy raid. Last night’s destructive attack came as a climax of weeks of heavy bombing. Earlier raids with Duisburg as the main target were in poor weather but last night there was no cloud at all and the crews were able to make the most of the moonlight. After reading reports on the raid from all bomber groups Air ViceMarshal Harris sent a message to. the crews congratulating them on the magnificent effort against Hamburg and stating that their work during the past week would long be remembered by Germany. The losses for weeks of raiding against such well defended areas have not been heavy when they are considered as a whole. Under five per cent, of the total number employed are missing. The attack on Hamburg began just before 1 a.m. when the first wave of heavy and medium bombers loaded with incendiaries came in. A second wave also dropped more incendiaries than high explosives with the result that over 175.000 incendiaries were dropped in 35 minutes and much of the old town was on fire. There were fires all round Aussen Alster lake and many* in the dock area. Pillars of black smoke rose but as they did not drift over the town the target was clear for the last wave which was fully loaded with high explosives, including 40001 b bombs.

Everything was so clear that all the targets were selected within a quarter of an hour. The fires continued to spread and the last crews to leave saw them burning long after they left the target—B.O.W.