U-BOAT YARDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 67, 22 March 1943, Page 4

U-BOAT YARDS

RAIDED BY US. BOMBERS DIRECT HITS SCORED Recd. 6 p.m. Rugby, March 19. Probing farthest yet into Gerin their unrelenting offensive against U-boat warfare, American heavj bombers at daylight successfully attacked the submarine shipbuilding yards at Vegesack. Direct hits on one of the largest enemy L’-boat building and repair yards, lying some 15 miles north-west of Bremen, are reported by the crews of Fortresses and Liberators. Fighting their way through heavy flak an fighter opposition, the highflying bombers penetrated to the inner defences of the ship-building centre. Enemy lighter aircraft which were estimated to number 50 to 75 were in the air at one time, and delivered their .first attacks as the bombers went in over the Frisian Islands, and continued until they were well out over the sea on the return trip. Some groups reported continuing encounters for an hour and 45 minutes. Submarine installations which were observed by the crews included a power-plant and partially-completed U-boats in shelters. One crew reported a direct hit on a submarine. Two bombers failed to return. Congratulations on the success of the American bombers’ very line operation were conveyed by Air Chief Marshal Portal to-day to Major-Gen-eral Ira C. Baker, commander of the Eighth United States army air force. —8.0.W.