TARGETS IN THE RUHR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 5

TARGETS IN THE RUHR

FLYING FORTRESS RAID RUGBY, Aug. 12. “Large formations of United States Eighth Air Force Flying Fortresses’, attacked the synthetic oil factories at Gelsenkirchen and Wesseling and the industrial target df Bonn,” states a joint air communique. “American, R.A.F., dominion, and Allied fighters and fighter-bombers supported the operations. The. crews reported that fires were left burning in the target areas. Enemy resistance was strong over Gelsenkirchen, and anti-aircraft fire was intense over all the targets. Over 20 enemy fighters were destroyed by the bombers. Thunderbolts and Spitfires, which covered the withdrawal of the Fortresses, destroyed three enemy fighters. Marauders, escorted by Spitfires, attacked the airfield of Poix, France. Typhoon bombers attacked the airfields at Courtrai and Merville.

Good bombing results are reported from all targets. From these operations 25 heaw bombers are missing. Many of the pilots said the fighter opposition was the stiffest yet experienced, but in spite of the fierce character of the interception, heavy antiaircraft fire, intense cold, and cloud formations, the Fortresses reached their objectives on schedule and made deliberate bombing runs. Bonn, where an industrial target was bombed, is a city with a population of 100,000. It is an important railway centre on the trunk line to Southern Germany, and is the site of a precision instrument factory.