AIR POUNDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25129, 16 February 1945, Page 5

AIR POUNDING

ALLIED BOMBERS AIDING JRUSSIANS CHEMNITZ ATTACKED DRESDEN HIT AGAIN (Reed. 8.80 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. IB The Allied bombing of key points in Eastern Germany was carried a stage further last night when the Royal Air Force sent more than 1300 aircraft to bomb Chemnitz, a vital base for the Germans southwest of Dresden. Chemnitz, like Dresden, is a focal point for the German forces trying to stem Marshal' Koniev's offensive from the Oder in Silesia.

Another strong force attacked a synthetic oil plant at Rositz, south of Leipzig. Berlin also was bombed.

Two attacks on Chemnitz were made during the night, following daylight raids from Britain by a great force of United States bombers, of which 450 went to Dresden, 450 to Chemnitz and about 400 to Magdeburg, while 50 bombed the bridge across the Rhine at Wesel.

Other Targets Attacked Waves of American heavy bombers from Italy yesterday also hit targets ahead of the Russian lines near Vienna and in Yugoslavia. American headquarters in London announce that American aircraft are over the Reich again today.

Fighters which escorted the American bombers over Germany yesterday shot down 19 enemy planes and strafed railway lines over a wide area. They shot up 98 locomotives and 185 railway cars. The American crews reported smoke rising 15,000 ft over Dresden, following the R.A.F. raid on Tuesday night. It is announced that only six planes are missing from the force of 1400 British heavy bombers' which raidecT Dresden' and other targets on Tuesday night. Nearly 650.000 incendiaries and hundreds of 40001b and many 80001b bombs were dropped.

Russian Gunfire Seen Crews of Lancasters which took part in this raid could see the battle on the Eastern Front, reports the British United Press correspondent with the Canadian Heavy Bomber Group. "As we left the target 1 could see endless fires and explosions in the east," said a Canadian air-gunner. "The Russians were laying down all kinds of stuff on thp Germans. Gun flashes spattered along the Western Front as well, but, they could not be compared with those on the Eastern Front."

The Berlin radio military spokesman described the R.A.F. raid against Dresden as a "real terror attack directed entirely against the centre of the city.'" He added that the world-famous museum and art gallery, with the great picture gallery, the Castle Opera House and other famous buildings were destroyed.