DOUBLE BLOW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 150, 28 June 1943, Page 5

DOUBLE BLOW

DAY AND NIGHT RAIDS STRONG AXIS OPPOSITION Recd. 6 p.m. Rugby. June 25. Bombers of the R.A.F. and of the American Eighth Air Force have delivered another double blow against Germany. The R.A.F. last night made its second heavy attack on Wuppertal, concentrating this time on Elberfeld, which received a weight of bombs nearly as heavy as Barmen did when over 1000 acres were devastated. The Germans had pushed the outer ring of defences to the coast, and the attack was pressed home in the face of strong opposition. Thirty-three of our bombers, including eight Canadian aircraft, are missing. Not many hours after the R.A.F. raid on Wuppertal a large force of unescorted Flying Fortresses attacked in daylight targets in north-west Germany. Adverse weather was encountered and observation of the targets was difficult. There was also strong fighter opposition, and many enemy aircraft were destroyed by the bombers. Eighteen of the American planes are missing. The Germans last night tried to make a bigger effort than ever to hold off the bombers from the Ruhr area. Scores of searchlights and a heavy barrage greeted them. Crews reported that the coast defences had obviously been strenglhzcned. but a far more intense struggle awaited them when they reached the Ruhr on the way to Elberfeld, one of the towns which forms Wuppertal, states the Air Ministry news service. Huge belts of searchlights tried tc spotlight the bombers, and light and heavy guns plumbed flak through the beams. One pilot was caught in searchlights for 20 minutes when he reached the Ruhr area, and was hit several times before he reached his objective. The Germans reinfored the defences by sending up many, night fighters. Despite all opposition, the bombers arrived over Elberfeld on time, and tires were soon started. One bomber was hit by incendiaries from above. These fell into the bomb bay and the doors were opened to let them drop out. The heavy bombers of the Eighth Air Force encountered a solid wall of clouds as they reached the German coast. Ploughing through a foglike bank, the bombers brok' 4 through into stretches of bright sunlight, but the ground was totally obscured. Out of the clouds came swarms of enemy fighters to dive upon some of the groups. Countless individual battles raged as the big bombers slipped into and through the clouds and back into bright sunlight, always urging on towards their target. New relays of enemy fighters joined in the melee, and the battle became fiercer. A large number of enemy planes is known to have been destroyed, but it is doubtful if the exact number can be determined, as the visibility was too poor to permit observation of results of the scores of encounters. When the bombers had reached the spot where the instruments told them they should find their objectives, clouds still obscured the ground in most places. Some of the heavies found rifts and dived through them, searching for the target. In no instance was it possible to observe thebombing results satisfactorily whip’ over north-west Germany. The battle continued as the formation turned for home, and encounters were many on the return journey.— 8.0.W.