AIMS ACHIEVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 5

AIMS ACHIEVED

PRODUCTION CEASES

BIG DAYLIGHT ATTACK 126 ENEMY PLANES LOST peed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 22 The best available evidence shows that the results of Sunday's record daylight attack on Germany were: — (1) There was no production today either at factories near Leipzig, which immediately prior to the attack were manufacturing approximately 38 per cent of Germany's single-engine fighter aircraft, or in the twin-engine fighter assembly plant at Bernberg, where Germany was producing approximately 30 per cent of her twin-engine fighters. (2) It is estimated that the bombing of the major twin-engine fighter components' factories at Brunswick, where production was previously interrupted by our attacks on January 11, postponed the re-establishment of production for another three or four months. Major Damage

This information is given by MajorGeneral Anderson, Deputy-Commander of Operations' of the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe. The headquarters of the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe state that photographs show that major damage was done to important, fighter aircraft factories at Leipzig, Brunswick and Bernberg, and the other military targets in Germany during Sunday's immense operations by the Eighth Army Air Force. Two main assembly buildings oi the Alesserschmitt fighter plant at Leipzig-Mockau were damaged severely by direct hits and in addition two flight hangars on the airfield adjoining the factory were damaged. Plants in Flames

Photographs show fires blazing at the related Messerschmitt 109 component plant at. Leipzig-Heiterblick. Another .Leipzig fighter r type factory making twin-engined Junkers SB's was hit in Sunday's attacks, and buildings producing major components for the Pousihg assembly works were badly damaged. At Bernberg' the principal German assembly plant for the new fighter version or' the twin-engined Junkers 88 and the new Junkers 88 were heavily damaged by direct hits. At Brunswick-Neupetritor, the main factory building, workshop and machine shops of the Messerschmitt 110 component plant were left burning and there were direct hits on the power station similar to the Messerschmitt 110 component plant at Brunswick Bombers' Good Score The headquarters of the United States Air Forces in Europe states that fighters and bombers ol the Army Air Force destroyed 126 enemy aircraft in the air yesterday while carrying out the attacks against fighter aircraft plants. Heavy bombers of the Eighth Air Force accounted for 65 and the fighters destroyed 61 enemy planes. The final assessment of losses shows that 21 bombers and three fighters are missing. Other targets and military installations at Rostock, in Germany, and on the Baltic .coast were attacked in yesterday's operation. LONDON'S ORDEAL .TWO WAVES OF RAIDERS MANY HOUSES DESTROYED iCßecd. 6.16 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 22 Anti-aircraft guns on the Thames Estuary opened up last night, when a few German raiders came over. Bombs were dropped in the outskirts, but noth- - ing has been reported from the centre of tho city. The raid did not last long. A crowd held up the traffic when Mr. Churchill, accompanied by a naval officer, inspected some of the damage from Sunday night's air raid. Smoking a cigar and smiling confidently, Mr. Churchill responded to the people's cheers with the famous V sign. Then he shouted: "It is like old times again." A German spokesman, commenting on Sunday's raid on London, said: "The moment is now coming when we are going to make a counter-blow for every one we receive." Raiders on Sunday night Hew over London in two waves. An appreciable number penetrated the defences, dropping mostly incendiaries, which were scattered over a wide area. High explosive bombs fell in a London district which was one of the worst bombed areas in 1910. Six houses were directly nit in one street, where nine people were killed and three are believed to still buried. Two bombs fell on houses in a neighbouring street, killing three and trapping several. licscue work here was rendered difficult through a burst water main flooding the area. Raiders dropped a nurnwi" of delayed action high explosive bombs. A raider which is believed to have been hit crashed into the back garden a house in a London suburb. Two nouses were set on fire and a number °[ persons was injured. A huge sheet flame shot into the air as the jnacaine hit the ground, and the members of the crew are believed to have been burned to death. Bombs were dropped on south-east island, causing little damage. Six raiders were destroyed on Sunday night, oeveral bodies were recovered from a Wock of flats demolished by a bomb. Rescue squads are still searching for more bodies. The High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, Mr. W. J. Jordan, had a narrow escape in a recent London ra] d. l'our high explosive bombs crashed near him, one within 200 yards, hitting 11 home for elderly people, of whom "'ere killed. ' Ihe shock was like an earthquake," said M r , Jordan. "We were lucky that tlle bombs exploded on the hill. We < O e , re at.the bottom of the hill, so we «id not receive the full blast of the ; explosion. We certainly did not wish %have the bombs any closer." '