FROM DAWN TO DUSK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22784, 7 January 1944, Page 5

FROM DAWN TO DUSK

Great Cross-Channel Offensive

Europe Feels Weight Of Allied Airpower

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 5. Huge forces of bombers and fighters swept out from Britain today, striking a four-pronged blow reaching across Europe from the west coast of France to Germany. Targets nearly 800 miles apart were bombed. R.A.F. bombers to-night made a concentrated attack on the German Baltic port of Stettin.

The cross-Channel offensive started at dawn and ended at dusk. Massed Allied medium bombers and fighters attacked the northern coast of France for the sixth successive day, while R.A.F. fighter-bombers, without loss, attacked military objectives In France. American bombers in great strength blasted Kiel—Germany’s No. 1 centre for U-boat construction—for the second successive day, when the great shipyards were still belching smoke from the previous attack. The targets bombed in Western Germany to-day are still not revealed. Airfields Blasted

In France, bombers attacked the great airfield at Tours, from which German long-range planes take off to harry our Atlantic convoys, also the airfield at Bordeaux, which the Germans use for shipping reconnaissance planes. The Air Ministry states that the Bomber Command last night attacked targets in Northern France. Mosquitoes attacked objectives in Berlin and Western Germany. Mines were laid in enemy waters. All our machines returned. Kiel Left Burning

Attacks on Kiel and Munster were made yesterday by a large force of heavy bombers of the Eighth United States Army Air Force, escorted and supported by United States and Royal Air Force fighters. Good results were reported, in spite of heavy cloud over the targets. At Kiel a large fire and much smoke was observed. Fighter opposition was effectively driven off by a long-range escort which destroyed eight enemy fighters. Heavy bombers destroyed four.

Supporting sweeps were carried out by Royal Air Force fighters, which destroyed five enemy aircraft. Eighteen of our heavy bombers and three fighters are missing.

Raiders Over England

There was slight enemy activity over the south-east of England, including the Greater London area, early this morning. Bombs were dropped at several points, but the damage was small. A number of casualties was reported. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed.

Terrific Battles Over Kiel Returning crews reported terrific air battles over Kiel, which the Germans protected with smokescreens from projectors around the city. The Germans also sent up numerous rocketfiring Messerschmitts. The German News Agency'says that Dusseldorf and Elberfeld were among the places attacked in Western Germany yesterday. A New Luftwaffe Weapon The Luftwaffe used a new weapon against the Fortresses and Liberators bombing Kiel to-day, namely, an aerial bomb on a wire behind the planes. One Fortress pilot said It looked like a hundred-pounder but it exploded harmlessly 50 yards from his ship. He Was unable to see how it was exploded. Another pilot said a plane with a trailing bomb sped through his formation. The bomb exploded with a big white flash just behind his Fortress, rocking it violently, but causing no damage.