BOMBERS' RECORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25172, 9 April 1945, Page 7

BOMBERS' RECORD

NO. 75_SQUADKON HAMMERING GERMANY (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) LONDON, April 6 Plastering German soil with thousands of tons of high explosives, pilots of No. 7o (New Zealand) Squadron operating from England have attained a new level of success In the last three weeks they have flown their Lnncasters in more than 400 sorties and have dropped 2000 tons of bombs to add to the destruction oi enemy towns and supply sources. Since the crossing of the Rhine nearly 600 New Zealand airmen have taken bombers in support of the advance of the Allied ground forces. By day and by night pilots are bringing back reports of towns and cities left smoking ruins. Industrial centres and marshalling yards in the Ruhr Valley have received such a hammering that there is just one continual jam of supply transport. Most of the operations have been in daylight, when, together with other squadrons of the group, they attack in tight formation from 2000 ft. This latest offensive has provided the heaviest and most accurate bombing in the history of the Bomber Command. Dresden has always been regarded as a sticky target because of the heavy defence, but last week the squadron was over there with dramatic results to the enemy. It was the deepest penetration the squadron had made. Attention was given to such objectives as synthetic oil plants, railway yards and troops concentrations. Flight-Lieutenant R. A. Banks, of Auckland, reported terrific explosions and smoke thick over the city. "There was a huge pillar of smoke which came up about 2000 ft.," he said. "Our actual job was to give support to the Russian front about 70 miles away, and with the clusters of incendiaries we dropped it was no wonder fires started everywhere." Another daylight attack was to support the Twenty-first Army Group's capture of Wesel. The Rhine was still to be crossed, but with the British Army only about two miles from the target extreme bombing accuracy was

necessary. "There is a great deal of satisfaction in helping the army," said Flight-Lieutenant L. W. Hannan, of New Plymouth, "and we know we have done a joo this time. Wesel fell a few hours after we had been there."

German opposition was mostly flak and pilots report that some was accurate. From all these operations the squadron has returned safely. _ Sometimes aircraft have come in with two engines feathered or the fuselage pitted, but all pilots have returned without personal injury and, what is more, in formation.