GERMAN CITIES POUNDED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 31 August 1942, Page 5

GERMAN CITIES POUNDED

IMPORTANT WAR INDUSTRY CENTRES BIG FIRES LEFT BURNING Rugby, Aug. 29. A strong force of R.A.F. bombers last night attacked objectives at Nuremberg and Saarbruckcn. Thirty of our bombers arc missing. Nuremberg,formerly a beautiful old city, has been turned by the Germans into an important centre of war industry. It is well known as a Nazi stronghold and has a tank factory, a large aluminium works making piston rods and castings and also a factory making heavy electrical equipment, while Saarbruckcn is an important railway centre with great repair shops for locomotives and rolling stock. The weather was perfect for the attack. There was a brilliant moon and scarcely a trace of cloud for miles around the target. With fires springing up from the targets, crews could see buildings and streets almost as clearly as daytime. One Lancaster pilot reported that there were terrific fires raging when they arrived and they started more. The defence was very strong. Crews saw many combats going on around them as night fighters attacked our bombers. At least one Mel 18 was destroyed. The attack on Saarbrucken was made by a force almost as strong as that at Nuremberg. There was some haze over the town but many fires were reported.

Bostons of the Bomber Command escorted by fighters attacked docks at Ostend this morning, while other bombers attacked power stations in the Lille-Lens area- Two enemy fighters were destroyed during diversionary sweeps by our fighters. Two bombers and one fighter are missing. FLYING FORTRESSES OVER BELGIUM It is officially stated that United States Flying Fortresses, escorted by R.A.F. fighters, bombed a German aerodrome near Courtrai, Belgium to-day. Many bursts were seen on the target. On the return trip the Fortresses beat off attacks by enemy fighters, several of which were severely damaged, though their destruction could not be confirmed. During this operation diversionary sweeps in which United States fighters participated were made. None of our aircraft is missing.—8.0. W.