AIR MIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25803, 26 March 1945, Page 5

AIR MIGHT

10,000 SORTIES PRELUDE TO OFFENSIVE HUGE TONNAGE OF BOMBS (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 24. The Allied air forces supporting the offensive across the Rhine today flew 10,000 sorties in one of the greatest operations in the history of air warfare. In a tremendous five-day aerial preparation for the great assault they flew 55,000 sorties. They dropped 50,000 tons of bombs, destroyed 450 enemy planes, and damaged 400 planes, besides putting out of action 5766 transport vehicles, 14,450 railcars, 1000 locomotives, and making 1000 rail cuts. Heavy United States bombers to-day continued their hammer blows against airfields close to the front, blasting runways and holing the landin', grounds at 12 fields —the majority t, them bases for jet-propelled aircralt. At the same time over 850 Mustangs and Thunderbolts were carrying out armed patrols over Germany, as well as escorting bombers. More than 1050 Fortresses and Liberators took part in the morning attack, hitting targets in good visibility between 8.30 and 10.30.

The first crews to return from trie airfield attacks reported no opposition from fighters, and either meagre anti-aircraft fire or none. Some 240 United States Liberators dropped supplies to-day to the First Allied Airborne Army east of the Rhine. • A strong force of R.A.F. fighters helped to cover the armada of 1500 transport planes used in the biggest single drop in air war history, with long-range tanks slung beneath their wings, Mustangs and Spitfires took off from British airfields early in the morning to police the sky route to the Reich and guard gliders and tugs. Squadrons which covered the D-Day landings and the air-borne operations to Arnhem were among, those which took part in the operation. Soon after noon to-day R.A.F. Halifaxes made a heavy attack on enemy trpops and armour on the east banx of the Rhine. Other Halifaxes attacked marshalling yards in the same area of the Ruhr. Visibility was good and both attacks were highly concentrated.

Not Up to Expectation

Anti-aircraft fire which was the chief concern of the planners and leaders of the new Rhine offensive, did not come up to expectations, says a correspondent with the Twenty-first Army Group. A large number of transport planes had by 2 a.m. returned safely to Continental airfields.

One officer described the first stages of the attack as “ nothing like such a tough nut as Arnhein.” There were casualties, but all the returning pilots confirmed that our losses were not expected to be heavy. It has been disclosed that over 1,000,000 air photographs were taken in preparation for the airborne attack. One hundred thousand tons of ammunition were brought up to the Second British Army. Another force of United States heavy bombers was over Germany late this afternoon—the third task force sent out by the Eighth Air Force to-day. “I saw our air-borne boys drop like a cloud of locusts,” said Wing Commander P. Rualand, D.F.C., who led one of the R.A.F. Fighter Command Mustang squadrons escorting the great stream of troop carriers across the Rhine. “We had gone out with them over the North Sea in perfect formation and in perfect weather. Not a German appeared all the way. Our first view of the Rhine resembled a peace-time scene, but as we neared zero point there were fires from bombmg and a smoke screen around our troops. Then we saw the first load of men drop. Everything had gone according to plan. I saw boats stream's across to the east ban* o. ie Rhine and back again for another cargo of men and I realised , L hat iviontgomery's men had gone into action.” Giant Hand Across Ruhr

Liberatoi's, which followed the gliders and transports across the Rhine, dropped 600 tons of supplies—more than 4000 canisters and numtics containing provisions and fighting equipment. Meanwhile, crews of more than .1050 Fortresses and Liberators returned from bombing 12 German airfields with a graphic description of (he great battle. "The instant we hit the Rhine we knew the British had gone across.” said thp deputy air commander of one Liberator group. "A tremendous battle was raging just east of the river, with literally hundreds of fighters strafing and diving, and with gun flashes everywhere. Our bombing was the best I have ever seen.” A tail-gunner said: “ The skies were filled with all types of aircraft, from heavy bombers to gliders. Fighters were dive-bombing and strafing every grouhd target in sight. All that part of Germany looked as if it were on lire.”

A fighter pilot said: "The Ruhr looked as if a giant hand had swept across it, tumbling buildings and factories like dominoes. I never saw such complete devastation.”