GOOD BOMBING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24876, 24 April 1944, Page 5

GOOD BOMBING

HAMM RAID RESULTS FIGHTER COVER PRAISED SOME AIR COMBATS (Seed. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 23 United States headquarters state that Fortresses and Liberators in very great strength went out for the fourth time in five days and bombed Hamm in good visibility. Most units reported good results. One Mustang group of fighters escorting the bombers caught about v 25 Messerschmitt 109's assembling over Germany, boxed them in and shot down 17. The majority of the other fighter groups had few combats.' Most of the bomhers encountered little opposition, but 30 to 40 enemy fighters attacked some groups. The bomber crews were enthusiastic about the high quality of the fighter 'support. The fighters, in addition to aerial combats, destroyed a number of enemy planes on the ground, o 1500 Tons of Bombs on Hamm It is estimated that about 1500 tons of bombs fell on Hamm. The last bombers of the vast' fleet of attackers did not reach their bases until after the blackout. Military objectives in Northern France were again bombed yesterday Marauders, Bostons, Mitchells and light bombers made one attack late in the afternoon. The bombers were escorted and covered by R.A.F., Dominion and Ailied Spitfires. Attacks_ were , also made by Mosquitoes and Spitfires. Thunderbolts and Mustangs diyebombed several rail centres and airfields in Belgium and Northern France. The targets were the railway yards at Malines and St. Ghislain, and airfields near Ghent and Lille. Repair shops, train sheds, oil tanks and freight cars were attacked at the railway yards. Pilots reported fires at Malines. Marauders and Havocs, in their second raid yesterday, flew through in- , tense flak and increased the total of ■ their bombs dropped during the _ day to 800 tons. This blow was their eighth j since Tuesday. R.A.F.'s Big Share The Air Ministry news service says E.A.F. and . Allied medium bombers of the Second Tactical Air Force had a big share yesterday in pounding enemy targets in Northern France. Royal Air Force and Dutch Mitchells and R.A.F. and French Bostons went out in the morning and late -in the afternoon. Soitfire fighters and fighter-bomber's also operated. - Royal Air-Force Mosquitoes hit railway vards in Northern France from a low level. Bombs were seen falling among rolling -stock and engine sheds. Boyai Air Force Mustangs, sweeping over. Rheims, Northern France, fought 16 Messerschmitts and destroyed three for the loss of one Mustang. RUMANIAN TARGETS BUCHAREST RAID REPORTED (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 22 The German news agency stated that American bombers at mid-day yesterday raided Bucharest, causing great ' havoc in working-class districts. Big battles developed over south-eastern Europe, and isolated bombs fell in Serbia and Southern Rumania. The Algiers radio stated that Allied planes yesterday again attacked Ploesti, m addition to Bucharest. MOUNTING TO CLIMAX ALLIED AIR BOMBARDMENT LONDON, April 22 The tremendous air bombardment Bgainst Axis Europe is now mounting Ewiitly toward Mr. Churchill s "unimaginable" climax, says the Press Association's aviation correspondent. \The Bomber Command's nightly effort lis already probably more than ten-iold /the peak of the German effort, while the daylight offensive is three times I more intense than in the Battle of f Britain. _ Photographs show that only two or t three war factories remain undamaged tin the great manufacturing centre of - Frankfurt, following last month's heavy day and night attacks. BOMBS ON ENGLAND ONLY SLIGHT DAMAGE fftecd 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 23 There was slight enemy air activity over parts of east England and Last Anglia last night. A few bombs were 'dropped, but only slight damage was reported. There were no serious casualties. One German aircraft was destroyed oil the north-east coast or Scotland. destruction at posen (Becd. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON. April 22 In the American bombing attack on Posen. Poland, on April 9, 60 per cent of the objectives were completely destroyed, according to the Polish underground radio.' Railway installations, Uerman Army stores buildings and an ammunition "factory which employed 15,500 workers, were destroyed.