R.A.F. OVER RUHR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 28 June 1943, Page 5

R.A.F. OVER RUHR

COALMINING DISTRICT THE TARGET HEAVY LOSSES DURING WEEK Rugby, June 26. The R.A.F. finished a week’s continuous night bombing with yet another attack in the Ruhr area, the fourth in five nights. The objective was the BochumGelsenkirchen district which lies in the heart of the Ruhr, and the defences of Essen, Duisburg, Krefeld, Mullieim 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 that used in recent raids had to be employed. Instead of trying to cone the bombers the Germans directed searchlights to the base of cloud so that the bombers would be clearly silhouetted and picked up by fighters. There were running fights all along the route .from the Belgian coast through the Ruhr and back again. Despite cloud the night never became very dark but enemy fighters were no more successful in stopping bombers than on the previous night, and clouds over the target were soon glowing from fires. Bochum and Gelsenkirchen have each a population of about 300,000 and coalmines. Bochum is the centre of a most prolific part of the Ruhr coal basin, while Gelsenkirchen is the chief steam coal mining centre. Both have many important factories There is a big steel industry at 113chum 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 Mr Elmer Davis, director of the United States Office of War Information, more than a thousand fighter planes and thirty thousand anti-aircraft guns have been assembled in the Ruhr and Allied losses in the week have been heavy. They amounted to 173 bombers of which 38 were American, and the loss of about 1500 highly trained men. The Germans probably lost a good many more aircraft in the week. —B.O. W. NUMEROUS COMBATS BOMBERS OVER FRANCE London, June 27. A number of formations of American heavy bombers and R.A.F. light bombers in daylight yesterday attacked enemy airfields and industrial targets in France. Some heavy bombers encountered ' adverse weather. Those which were unable clearly to identify their 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 three 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.—P.A. GOOD BOMBING RESULTS London, June 27. Enemy airfields in northern France were again targets for light bombers and fighter bombers early this evening. Typhoon bombers attacking Bemay 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 a twin-engined aircraft. Escorting Typhoon fighters described the bombing results as good. All got back safely. Other Typhoon fighter-bombers swept over marshalling yards at Eu, near Le Treport, 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.—P.A.