GREAT FRIEDRICHSHAFEN RAID

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24877, 26 April 1944, Page 5

GREAT FRIEDRICHSHAFEN RAID

KARLSRUHE AND MUNICH ATTACKED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Eeceivcd April 25, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 25 Attacking in five countries, Allied bombing forces yesterday xriaintained the great pre-invasion offensive at the highest pitch on targets in France, Belgium, Germany, Yugoslavia and Rumania in one of the most widespread operations of the war. Between 750 and 1000 American heavy bombers, With a similar number of fighters, in a round trip of nearly 1200 miles from Britain, struck deep into Southern Germany, hammering aircraft and other factories at Friedrichshafen and a number of airfields around Munich. Probably another 1000 bombers and fighters from Italy attacked Bucharest and the Ploesti railway yards in Rumania and the Ikarus aircraft factory at Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Fourteen aircraft were lost and 29 enemy aircraft were destroyed. In addition, the great Allied offensive from Britain against Continental objectives continued throughout the day. Large forces crossed the Strait of Dover in the morning and again in the afternoon, while a coastal correspondent reported last evening that " Allied squadrons are still to be heard going out and returning above the cloudbelt over the Strait." Last night the tremendous air onslaught was carried on in very great strength by the R.A.F. Bomber Command. The bombers' sxiain targets were Karlsruhe and Munich. Word of the attacks :ame after correspondents on the coast reported outward-bound planes last night. A reporter from the Channel coast said the noise overhead could be likened to a vast train service running to schedule. The Air Ministry says that first reports indicate that both attacks were well concentrated. A pilot on reconnaissance over Munich an hour after the main forces had left said the fires had then such a grip that a large area of the city was ablaze. Karlsruhe is an important railway junction for lines to Italy in the south and France in the west. It has extensive marshalling yards and armament works. Hundreds of light bombers and fighter-bombers struck on Sunday against military objectives in Northern France in such numbers that even in the greatest days of the Battle of Britain there was nothing like it. Simultaneously fresh blows were struck from Italy when an air fleet of between 500 and 750 heavy bombers attacked the Wiener Neustadt area, near Vienna, Austria. Fortyseven enemy aircraft were shot down.