ESSEN RAIDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24879, 28 April 1944, Page 3

ESSEN RAIDED

BRITISH BOMBING AMERICANS ACTIVE BLOW AT BRUNSWICK NO LOSSES SUFFERED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 27 An Air Ministry communique issued this morning announced that well over 1000 aircraft of the H.A.F. Bomber Command were out over Germany and occupied territory during the night. Their main target was the Ruhr industrial city of Essen, home of the Krupp works, Germany's biggest armament plant. Schwinefurt was ' also attacked. The Krupp factories spread over a vast acreage and were a main source of Germany's heavy armaments. In a series of attacks last year the Bomber Command shattered Essen, but the Minister of Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, said the R.A.F. might have to go back again to check any attempts at partial reconstruction. The Germans have been making some efforts to rebuild this arm-

aments centre. Almost a month ago about 2500 tons of bombs was unloaded on it by the R.A.F. Lancasters and Halifaxes attacked the Krupp works, while another large force of Lancasters bombed the ballbearing factories at Schweinfurt. Another heavy attack was made on the railway yards at Villeneuve St. George, south of Paris. Mosquitoes attacked Hamburg, and other aircraft laid mines in enemy waters. Twenty-nine heavy bombers and two Mosquitoes are missing. A reconnaissance pilot -who flew over Essen two hours after the main force had left reported a great area of fire with smoke rising to 20,000 feet. Experienced R.A.F. pilots say the enemy's ground and air defences last night were feeble compared with those of a vear ago. Strong forces of American Liberators and Fortresses to-day attacked German military targets in Northern France. The German radio says Allied aircraft were also over Germany this morning and that they penetrated into southern and south-west Germany. The radio speaks of fierce air battles. Nine Operations in 10 Days About 1000 American bombers and long-range fighters yesterday b.asted targets in the important aircraft centre of Brunswick and elsewhere in Western Germany. It was the first time that American airmen had carried out a major assault against the Reich without loss. Some members of the crews reported having seen smoke rising to a height of 15,000 ft. This was the ninth operation in the nast 10 davs bv the United States Eighth Air Force, and the 19th during April. Targets on the French side ot the English Channel were pounded again yesterday bv another big fleet of Allied bombers. For nearly an hour people on the coast heard an unbroken roar of aircraft, including strong formations of United States Marauders. Terrific explosions were heard on the other side of the Channel during the night. Thunderbolt fighter-bombers, finding a hole in heavy cloud over France, attacked a railway centre west of Paris. No enemy fighters were encountered. _ Fighter-bombers attacked enemy airfields in France. Bombs were dropped through the clouds on these targets by means of instruments, and the results could not be observed. Six cf our fighters did not return. Some enemy aircraft wore destroyed or damaged on the ground. LONG-RANGE SPITFIRES IN ACTION OVER GERMANY (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April '26 R.A.F. Spitfires flew into Germany for the first time this afternoon. They were fitted with long-range tanks and operated without loss between Aachen and Cologne. They destroyed four gliders parked on an airfied, attacked a goods train and shot down an enemy plane. The Spitfire is thus the third singleengined Allied fighter to fly into Germany from Britain. The first was .the Mustang, and the second the Thunderbolt. Both are now engaged in escorting American heavy bombers. The Spitfires to-day must have flown at least 800 miles, whereas the original combat range was only about 400 miles. BOMBS ON ENGLAND COASTAL DISTRICTS (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 27 One enemy aircraft was destroyed over Britain during the night, when raiders flew over coastal districts of southern England and East Anglia. There were casualties and some damage. London had two short alerts, but no rineidents have been reported. SHOCKED BY BOMBING COMMITTEE'S RESOLUTION LONDON, April 26 The Bombing Restriction Committee carried a resolution stating that the committee was shocked by reports of loss of civilian lives as the result of the Royal Air Force bombing policy and urged the Government to cease obliteration bombing of large centres of population. The Bishop of Birmingham, Dr. Barnes, supporting the resolution, said bombing was a horrible development of warfare which ought to be an outrage to Christian conscience. The Bombing Restriction Committee is an offshoot of the Committee for the Abolition of Night Bombing, which was formed in 1942. The Bombing Restriction Committee first came before the public eye in the House of Commons on October 2S, when the Home Secretary, -Mr. Morrison, dismissed its activities as having a negligible influence on public opinion.