HEAVY BLOWS PLANES FROM ITALY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24826, 24 February 1944, Page 5

HEAVY BLOWS

PLANES FROM ITALY

GERMAN FACTORIES AMERICAN RAIDS TWO-PBONGED ATTACKS RISGENSBUBG POUNDED LONDON, Feb. •_>-> The headquarters of the United States Strategic Air Forces in Furope states: "The Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces carried on (heir offensive against fighter aircraft factories and other targets in Germany to-day in their first coordinated attack from bases in the United Kingdom and Italy. It was the third major daylight bombing operation in as many days, and was aimed at the destruction of Germany's capacity to maintain her aerial defensive against further bombing. "Our bombers were supported by fighters of the Eighth, Tsinth and Fifteenfcli Air Forces, and by R.A.F., Dominion and Allied Spitfires. Fiftyone fighters were destroyed in Monday's daylight raid." From British and Italian Bases The Mediterranean Air Force headquarters announced that Regensburg (also known as liatisbon, 250 miles south of Berlin and 80 miles north of .Munich), which houses an important Messersehmitt factory, was the target for the first co-ordinated raid from Britain and Italy. It. was the longest mission flown by Italy-based bombers. Flying Fortresses and Liberators scored hits on the main factory buildings at Obcrt.raiding, a south-eastern suburb of Regensburg. Lightnings and Thunderbolts engaged the German fighters which attacked the heavy bomber formations when Hearing Regensburg. Weather Favoured Defence The German news agency said that particularly grim air battles developed over central Germany. Weather conditions favoured the defence. From this it can be assumed that the enemy suffered considerable losses. Some of the British-based bombers went for fighter-plane factories at Bernberg, airframe plants at Osehersleben, 75 miles south-west of Berlin, and others went to Halberstadt. All three towns are within 30 miles of each other.

The fighters from Britain alone shot down 58 enemy aircraft. Jt is not yet known how many the bombers destroyed. Forty-one heavy bombers and 11. fighters did not. get back to their bases in Britain. The planes from Italy destroyed 50 enemy aircraft. They lost 15 planes. Last, night, R.A.F. Mosquitoes attacked objectives in Germany and enemy-occupied territory. Many mines were also laid in enemy waters. This morning Mosquitoes, covered by Typhoons, attacked military objectives in Northern France, and other Allied planes attacked targets in Holland.

RECORD DAY BOMBING GERMANS CLAIM 194 DOWN (.Reed. S.:<o p.m.) LONDON", Feb. 22 The biggest force of bombers ever sent out from the Mediterranean was engaged in the attack against Regensburg, involving a flight of 1500 miles. Simultaneously, other forces bombed harbours and airfields in Yugoslavia, including that of the city of Zagreb. The attack on Regensburg was officially described as the heaviest daylight raid of all time against a single target. The German news agency claimed that at least 19J American planes, mostly four-engined machines, were shot down in the raid on Regensburg. FIRES OF STUTTGART MAIN INDUSTRIAL PLANT (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. Fob. •>_> Many fires were burning unchecked at Stutigart, when reconnaissance aircraft were over there on Monday after the Bomber Command's 2000-ton attack the night before. Great volumes of smoke were rolling up from the most important industrial plant in Stuttgart, the Robert Bosch works. The main foundries at this works were burning fiercely.

LONDON BOMBED SEVEN PLANES SHOT DOWN (Recti. 1.1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23 German raiders were over London last night for the third night running. At least seven were brought down. Explosives and incendiaries were dropped, but the fires they started were quickly dealt with. German aircraft were also active over Eastern England and in one town two hotels were hit. One result of the recent Allied raids over Germany is the return of the Luftwaffe to England, chiefly so far to London. It is interesting to observe thai whereas Londoners adopted the slogan, "We can take"it" in the blitz when Britain had no option but to "take it," the feeling among people to-day appears chiefly to he one of irritation. Although the recent raids on London are nowhere as severe or as continuous as in flu 1 1910-41 days, tliey have been s'lmrp enough to induce many people to return to the underground shelters for the night. It is expected that the raids on London will continue, hut nobody believes flint the Germans can repeat the performance of 1940-41. It is also expected that the nearer the second front approaches, so -will the Luftwaffe's bombing turn to British ports.

FAMOUS FIGHTER

THUNDERBOLT'S BIG BOMBS ONE SLUNG UNDER EACH WING (Ural. p.m.) LONDON, Fob. -j:! Already tanious as a high-altitude fighter, the thunderbolt has now become one ol the world's .most powerful lighter-bombers, says Renter's correspondent at Algiers, following tests carried out by pilots of the .Mediterranean Air Force. Thunderbolts for a mouth have been carrying two 10001b, bombs —a load previously undreamed of for fighters and also equalling the load of medium bombers. The first, breathless take-off with the greatest lethal load ever carried by a lighter-bomber was made by a major from Kentucky, whose squadron has since dive-bombed with 10001b. bombs slung under each wing. The United States War Department has disclosed that a new long-range deadlier version of the Lightning plane can tight and manoeuvre at 40,000 feet, as well as carry two 10001b. bombs as a fighter-bomber. It was revealed in London last month that Lightnings were escorting American bombers ranging far over Germany. The new type has a 10 per cont_ increase in power, its two Allison engines now generating more than 1000 horsepower each. The rate of climb at altitudes above .10,000 feet has been radically increased. Much of the plane's new power is due to improved turbo-super-eharger and inter-cooler installations. On one engine the Lightning can fly at .100 miles an hour, and the War Department claims that it can outmanoeuvre many smgle-eugined aircraft in dogfighting.