NUREMBURG RAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24738, 15 October 1941, Page 5

NUREMBURG RAID

HEAVY R.A.F. BOMBING HUGE FIRES STARTED OTHER AREAS ATTACKED RUGBY, Oct. 13. Nuremburg, the second largest city in Bavaria, and the place where the Nazi Party holds its rallies, was the most distant objective attacked by a force of more than 300 R.A.F. bombers last night. This meant a journey of over 1100 miles. The consequent changes in weather during the many hours and at many widely separated points had to be taken into account when the attack was planned. But all went well oveir Nuremburg. Our crews found good weather for a systematic attack. The first crews flew round over the town before they released incendiaries to light up the objective. The sky was brilliant with flares, then the first stick of bombs went down, followed by many others. The fires spread until a red glow tinged the wings of the bombers. The town itself was lit up by huge fires. The crews saw roofs cave in, factory buildings collapse,, flames pour from windows, and skeletons of burnt-out buildings standing out against the blaze. After the earlier attacks the fires had spread far and wide and lit up the railways and factories of Nuremburg for the crews who came in after midnight with fresh loads of heavy bombs. In widespread attacks many other objectives were bombed during the night. Bremen was the main focus in Northern Germany, where the weather was not so good as in Bavaria. In spite of clouds big fires were seen burning in this port. The R.A.F.. in intense air battles today, accounted for 19 enemy fighters in northern France. In the afternoon the chemical works and power station at Mazingarbe, near Bethune, were bombed and hits were observed on the cooling tower of the chemical works. During these operations there were many combats with enemy fighters. One of our bombers is missing and 12 fighters, but the pilots of two fighters are safe.

A second enemy aircraft was destroyed in the raids over Britain last night. There was nothing to report in daylight to-day in enemy activity over Britain. NIGHT FIGHTER WORK HAVOCS MAINLY EMPLOYED (Rec. 8 p.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 13. In a broadcast a squadron leader who has definitely destroyed four German bombers by night over their own aerodromes, and has many probables also to his credit, described work upon which he was recently engaged. “The success of night fighter work over enemy aerodromes, for which Havocs are mainly employed,” he said, “ should not be judged by the number of enemy aircraft they destroy. Large though this is, I know positively that our mere presence over the enemy’s bases has caused the loss of German bombers without even a shot being fired at them. Moreover, our presence upsets the Luftwaffe bomber organisation, throws their plans out of order in many ways, and has a big effect on the morale of the bomber crews themselves.” Describing what happens over enemy aerodromes at night, the officer stated: “On goes the flares, and the bomber comes low, making a T circuit of the landing field with its lights on and the throttle shut. A mile or two away in our stalling Havoc we feel our hearts beat. The throttle is banged open, the stick is thrust forward, and the Havoc is-tearing down in an irresistible rush. One short burst from the guns is usually sufficient. The bomber glides and turns to dive —the last dive it is likely to make. Whether you get a Hun or miss him, ho frequently piles up on the ground through making his landing in fright." A ( Junkers Shot Down Describing one of his successes, the squadron leader said: "It was the night of the last big raid on London, and the Huns were streaming back to their bases in swarms. I got a crack at a JU as, with its navigation lights on, it came down to land, and the bullets appeared to enter the starboard engine and fuselage of the bomber. My downward rush carried us over the JU some 10ft above it, and as we passed my rear gunner poured a long stream of bullets into the port engine, and the bomber went into an almost vertical dive. She was only 800 ft up, and it was practically impossible that the pilot could have pulled out of the dive, apart from the fact that both his engines were damaged, but we only claimed the JU as a probable. After this, the aerodrome lights were turned off. We climbed away, and the lights came on again, so we bombed the aerodrome. and large fires resulted. The aerodrome lights were again put out, but there were numerous bombers still trying to land. We came down to 1000 ft and saw an ME 111. I opened fire close in. The bullets entered one engine and the fuselage, and after the second burst smoke poured from both engines, and it went into a steep sideslipping turn. As we passed beneath her the gunner put another burst into the beast. Plane Blown to Pieces “Then one night near St. Lcgcr. after we had bombed the aerodrome at Douai, we met a huge Focke-Wulf Condor four-engined transport. It had its navigation lights on. and was about to land. At only 50 yards range I put a good burst into the transport’s belly. It was all that was necessary. The Condor gave out an enormous dash of light, burst into flames, and blew to bits, and the burning debris flew past my aircraft on all sides.”