BOMBING OF ESSEN

Otago Daily Times, Volume 25193, Issue 25193, 6 April 1943, Page 3

BOMBING OF ESSEN

KRUPPS WORKS HIT AGAIN RUGBY. Apl. 4. ; Bomber Command in its raid on Essen last night again dropped bombs . on the great Krupps works, says the Air Ministry news service. At one stage of the attack six 4000-pounders were falling every minute. Within half an hour a huge pall of smoke had rolled over the city. Many fires were burning fiercely underneath. , Many crews spoke of a tremendous . explosion, which was “just as if somebody had thrown gallons of petrol on a fire.” There were two such explo- * taken during the attack show that the vast Krupps works were hit again. They were badly damaged during two attacks last month, but there are 800 acres of them, and the Germans had made an obvious effort to save the rest. There were more guns, more searchlights, and more night fighters defending the city than ever before. One pilot, who has taken part in 28 sorties over Germany, said he had “never seen more spectacular defence.” The target area was covered with glittering white lights from incendiaries and searchlights working m cones of about 30 each. As soon as a cluster spotted an aircraft it held on to it with its beam, then another cone would take it on. It was as if the planes were being tossed from one to another. , , . ' There was a slight ground haze last night but the sky above the city was ' clear. Essen has always been the most heavily defended area in Germany, with the possible exception of Berlin. It has a concentration of anti-aircraft guns and searchlights disposed, over many miles in depth around it all. . Attacking aircraft have to fly for a • maximum period through this super- * defended zone. Last night’s defences seemed much heavier than ever before. • Raids were also made on Dieppe r Harbour, where the mole and shipping were hit. An enemy aerodrome between Cherbourg and Le Havre was bombed, and an attack was also carried out on the railway marshalling yards at Abbeville. Attacks were made on enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast, direct hits being made on a number of vessels. „ , , Two bombers, five fighters, and one Coastal Command aircraft are missing from these operations.