HANOVER BOMBED

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22151, 24 September 1943, Page 5

HANOVER BOMBED

LARGE FIRES STARTED LONDON, Sept. 23 Bombers of the Royal Air Force were over Germany last night. Their main target was Hanover. A highlyconcentrated attack was completed in 30 minutes, leaving very large fires and clouds of smoke which rose to a great height. The same force also bombed Oldenburg and Emden. Several enemy night fighters were destroyed. Enemy airfields in Holland and North-west Germany were also bombed and one enemy aircraft destroyed. Twenty-six bombers and one fighter are missing. Berlin radio says the Royal Air Force raided Northern and Northwest Germany last night. Berlin was among the targets, but night fighters and the ground defences prevented the raiders reaching their objectives. , The last attack on Hanover was made by United States Flying Fortresses in daylight on July 2G, when great damage was done to an important factory and the main railway station. The city has a population of over 500,000. Hanover is the most important railway centre between Berlin and the Low Countries and has an excellent network of canals. Later information is that in the day’s operations the Germans lost 24 machines and the Allies six. Wailing to Pounce The Royal Air Force raiding force numbered 100 planes, including many four-engined Giants. There was heavy opposition. Enemy fighters were waiting for our bombers far out and also over the target. Higi above the bombers German planes dropped flares to help the Messerschmitts and Junkers waiting for a chance to pounce. The German ground gunners played a minor role. United States Eighth Air Force Fortresses, escorted by Thunderbolts, this afternoon attacked the docks and shipyards at Nantes for a second time today, and Marauders, escorted by Spitfires, attacked the airfield of Beauvais-Tille.