GREAT AIR BLITZ

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22321, 12 April 1944, Page 3

GREAT AIR BLITZ

RAIDS BY 2000 PLANES POUNDING OF GERMANY NON=STOP OFFENSIYE {United press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copvrlght) (Received April 12, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 11 Nearly 2000 planes, including between 750 and 1000 bombers, participated in today’s raids against aircraft plants deep inside Germany, says the British United Press correspondent at the United States bomber base. Continuing the non-stop daylight offensive, says a United States communique, very strong forces of Liberators and Fortresses attacked targets deep inside Germany, including aircraft plants at Oschersleben and Bernberg. Fighter escort in very great strength came from United States Thunderbolts and Lightnings and Royal. Air Force Mustangs. Oschersleben is a railway junction nearly 100 miles west-south-west of Berlin. Bernberg is 25 miles east-south-east of Oschersleben.

While most of the Royal Air Force aircraft went to the five great traffic centres of Ghent, Tours, Tergnier, Aielnoys and Laon last night other Lancasters dropped many 8000 lb. bombs on an important depot containing large stores of signals #and radio equipment for the Luftwaffe at Steyr, near Paris. Though there was thin cloud and haze over some targets visibility was excellent above and there'was bright moonlight. The weather was favourable for the defenders and the enemy put up many night fighters. Bombing Well Concentrated

Fighter flares were laid along the routes to the targets and there were many encounters, particularly among aircraft attacking the railway yards at Tergnier, when on the first lap of the return flight. Pathfinder tactics were used in all the attacks and the crews reported that the bombing was well concentrated on the yards, and reports of the attack on Steyr indicate that the bombing was equally good there. Mosquitos attacked Hanover in clear weather, with a little patchy cloud over the town. Fifty searchlights and a good number of heavy anti-aircraft guns pame into action while the Mosquitos dropped their load, which included about a score of 40001 b. bombs. Before the rapid attack was over the crews saw fires getting a good hold. Planes with Rockets The Germans used their new speedy Messerschmitt 410’s, some mounted with rockets, also FockeWulf 190’s and some older Junkers 88’s fitted with rockets. These used the same tactics as on January 11, when they got 60 American bombers lined up, 20 abreast, a mile in front of the bombers and then came straight at them. However, neither fighters nor flak stopped the bombers from reaching their target, and as crews turned back they saw, fire and smoke belching from what once was a vital German installation. Reports from Stockholm say that nine Fortresses made a forced landing in southern Sweden this morning.

The greater part of the 900 planes sent out last night were Lancasters and Halifaxes, which heavily attacked five great traffic centres in the north-west of Europe. Other Lancasters dropped many 80001 b. bombs on a sixth target, which was a depot containing large stores and signals equipment fQr the Luftwaffe at Saint Cyr, near Paris. A seventh target was Hanover, which Mosquitos hammered with nearly a score of 40001 b. bombs. The enemy put up many night fighters, resulting in sharp encounters. The non-stop character of the air war is indicated by a message from the Berlin radio late this evening: “Enemy planes are approaching west and northern Germany.” Destruction at Lille The Vichy radio, describing the latest raid against S-dlle as the worst yet, said that 400 people are dead, 851 injured, and 8000 homeless. Airmen bombed the railway yards at Charleroi, 30 miles southward of Brussels, airfields at Chievres, in Belgium, and military objectives in northern France. Escorts to the targets in Belgium were provided by Royal Air Force, Dominion and Allied Spitfires and to those in France by other Ninth Air Force Thunderbolts. One bomber failed to return, but none of the Thunderbolts are missing. The yards at Charleroi, in the centre of an important steel producing area, received numerous hits among locomotive sheds, repair shops and rolling stock. No enemy aircraft were encountered in any cf the attacks. Softening Up For Invasion The Evening News’ aviation correspondent says that with last night’s blitz against French and Belgian rail targets, backed up today by another mighty offensive against Germany itself, tne Allied forces stepped up the invasion softening to a new level of intensity. Last night’s railway-busting operations, which were closely correlated with the Anglo-American attacks against the German aircraft industry and military objectives in the north of France, seem part of a general plan for softening up Hitler’s transportation system over the whole length of the so-called invasion coast. The Stockholm correspondent of the American Press reports that Swedish anti-aircraft guns shot down a German warplane in the south of Sweden. Two Junkers 88 were destroyed

and another damaged by Mosquitos over the Bay of Biscay this morning. Royal Air Force Coastal Command Mosquitos, two of which are missing, also shot down a Junkers 88 in the same area. Greatest Attack of War Another report says that, following the greatest night’s bombing of the war, in which 3600 tons of bombs were dropped on seven targets in Germany, France and Belgium, huge forces approaching 2500 strong were today blasting targets from across the Channel deeply into the Reich, including Marauders attacking rail air targets in north France and Belbium. These offensives came as a climax to the mightiest 84 hours’ bombing in the air war.

The Press Association’s aviation correspondent estimates that hy day and night 9000 planes, the majority of which were bombers, invaded Hitler’s European fortress from the west, smashing the most important targets with over 11,000 tons of bombs.

The force which flew' over Germany to attack the aircraft plants at Oscherleben and Bernberg today consisted of 800 or 900 Fortresses and Liberators, with an escort approaching 1000 long-range fighters. The British United Press correspondent at the United States bombers’ base described how two combat wings, flying between layers of cloud, which gave the Germans perfect cover, engaged in a 45-minute battle with the Germans, who repeatedly roared through the formations with guns blazing. “The sky was filled with red and yellow streamers of fire as tracers from the Fortresses’ guns crossed the smoke and fire from the enemy rocket guns and the slashing red streaks from his cannon.”