ANOTHER DAY RAID ON BERLIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 60, 11 March 1944, Page 5

ANOTHER DAY RAID ON BERLIN

CLOUD AIDS THE AMERICANS ABSENCE OF FIGHTER OPPOSITION (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) London, March 9. United States heavy bombers to-day converged on Berlin from several directions without encountering fighter opposition. This in believed to be because of heavy cloud which completely covered the Reich capital and grounded the enemy air force. To-day s target was the centre of Berlin, the raiders using overcast bombing technique. To-day’s raid, which was the third in the past four days, rounds off a period of the most intensive attack against Beilin since the heavy blows delivered by the Royal Air horce on the nights of January 27, 28 and 30. This was the first time American bombers had actually crossed the centre of Berlin. u- Thick clouds did not prevent the enemy ground defences from pumping up more flak than the Americans have yet encountered over Berlin. American losses were eight bombers.

A U.S.A.A.F. communique states: “Seven bombers and one fighter are missing from to-day’s raid on Berlin. Neither bombers nor fighters claimed the destruction of any enemy planes. All the fighters reported no opposition from enemy planes, but a few of our bombers reported minor encounters with the enemy. Additional industrial targets in Berlin were bombed and one formation of our heavy bombers also attacked an industrial target in Germany. ’ ’ Some bombers flew backwards and forward ov.r Berlin before dropping their loads. Crews of Fortresses and Liberators reported “360 degree runs,” indicating that they circled Berlin as their b£>mbs went down. Mustang pilots protecting the bomb-

ers said the cloud had probably prevented fighters reaching the raiders. jfhey added that some German fighters ”' have penetrated the cloud and attacked bombers on the homeward journey, but this was considered unlikely. The leader of one Mustang group said the clouds were so thick that they formed a roof four miles high over Europe. The cloud reached up 20,000 feet, but the crews reported that the glow of fires was visible through the cloud, also several columns of thick brown smoke rising above the cloud. “The only land we saw from the take-off until we returned to base were the peaks of mountains south of Berlin.” Another Mustang pilot said he saw only one Fortress drop, although the flak was very heavy. The Nazis shot a lot of rockets against the bombers, but their aim was poor. Berlin radio admitted that weather conditions had greatly handicapped German anti-aircraft units. Berlin radio said: “American bombers, under a cloud cover, terror-raitled Berlin at mid-day and caused damage and casualties in residential quarters.” Neutral correspondents in Berlin report that the repetition of the daylight attack against Berlin yesterday came as the greatest shock to Berlin- . ers, who, because of the extreme of heavy United States losses on Mon i , believed that the enemy had received a lesson of such severity that further daylight attacks would be impossible. One correspondent expresses the opinion that yesterday s attack not only destroyed Berlins flats and streets, but also the last hope in the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe and ground defences. Besides the VKF ballbearing factory, where all four main buildings were hit, B<i"lin?r Mascinenbau factory, in the Waldau district, was damaged, three important buildings having been set on fire. This factory, which before the war specialised in locomotives, is believed to have been manufacturing torpedo parts.