2000 PLANES OUT

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22320, 11 April 1944, Page 3

2000 PLANES OUT

HUGE LOADS DROPPED BOMBING OF CONTINENT FRESH PEAK OF INTENSITY (UiUcd Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received April 11 1 p.m.) LONDON, April 10 The April offensive against occupied Europe reached a fresh peak of intensity today, when nearly 2000 Allied bombers and fighters swept out from Britain. Almost a non-stop day and night assault has been going on for 63 hours, in which thousands of t6ns of bombs have been dropped by some 5000 planes. The attacks today began when 700 American heavy bombers, with an equal sized escort, went ovev the Channel. Marauders, completing the biggest day of their operations so far, late this afternoon bombed railway yards in Belgium and Northern France. American Mustang fighter bombers drove deep into Belgium to bomb Hasselt, a rail centre, also without opposition. The Paris radio says lhat Royal Air Force bombs last night killed 148 people in the Paris region and 113 at Lille. It adds that the raids were very heavy and caused great damage.

The Air Ministry reports that Lancasters, Halifaxes and Stirlings bombed Villcneuve St. Georges, which is a junction on the main Lyons-Marseilles line, eight miles from Paris, in brilliant moonlight. The bombers encountered stiff opposition. # The Algiers radio quoted an official report that Allied bombers from the Mediterranean Air Force last night attacked the aerodrome at Perpignan and military installations at Narbonne, Beziers and A&de, all in the south of France, near the Franco-Spanish border. Several squadrons of Mosquitoes from Britain last night made a rapid attack on Mannheim, dropping fifteen 4000-lb bombs and many other bombs within 10 minutes. The British United Press aviation correspondent points out that Mosquitoes are now dropping upwards of 100 tons in single raids, which means that they have come right out of the nuisance class and have reached the stage where it is worthwhile to send out Pathfinders in advance of their missions.

Among the targets attacked by American bombers today were repair works at Evere and Vilvorde and an airfield at Melsbroek, near Brussels, an aircraft factory at Bourges, in France, and an airfield at Orleans. Few enemy fighters came up to give battle, although some formations reported that those which did fight were aggressive. Our fighter pilots reported destroying seven enemy planes in the air and a number of ethers on the ground. From all the operations three of our bombers and four of our fighters are missing. Plant Set on Fire

Focke-Wulf fighter production again suffered in the attacks carried out yesterday by United States heavy bombers. At Marienburg, East Prussia, all the principal buildings in a Focke-Wulf assembly plant were hit and set on fire. At Rhemal, near Gdynia, assembly shops, dismantling shops and stores were hit. At Tutow an assembly plant, hangar and workshops were hit and set on fire. Twenty-nine German aircraft were destroyed or damaged on me ground. The bomber gunners shot down 43 fighters and the escort accounted for 20 planes. Huge Explosions

Liberators bombed military objectives at Pas de Calais. The escorting fighters strafed various targets.

Lille was bombed last night by Royal Air Force Lancasters, Halifaxes and Stirlings. Villeneuve St. George, a suburb of Paris, was also bombed. Both Royal Air Force targets contain important railway facilities. Visibility was good. There was stiff opposition from intense flak and many night fighters. Night photographs indicated that the bombing was good. There were two huge explosions in a locomotive depot at Lille.

Several squadrons made a tenminute attack on Mannheim, dropping fifteen 40001 b bombs and many other bombs.