PROSPECT FOR NAZIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1942, Page 3

PROSPECT FOR NAZIS

ATTACK BY THOUSAND PLANES A NIGHT SHOULD BE FEASIBLE BEFORE LONG HEAVY & DESTRUCTIVE RAID OF4 MANNHEIM. ST. NAZAIRE & OTHER TARGETS ALSO BOMBED. LONDON, May 20. AVhen the power of the air offensive from Britain reaches its peak, at least 1,000 bombers a night may be sent out to attack Germany. It is stated that this figure is regarded in London as being quite feasible, taking account of the combined air strength of Britain and the United States. Aerodromes are available to take that number of bombers and as many more as can be obtained. There is no shortage of aviation petrol.

Last night the R.A.F. made a heavy attack on the vital industrial city and pert of Mannheim. The latest types of giant bombers took part. One group of Stirlings dropped over 40,000 incendiary bombs, and when the pilots left they saw many fires raging. Some of the heaviest high-explosives were seen to burst among factories. Mannheim has now been raided 54 times. The submarine base of St. Nazaire was also bombed and fighters attacked aerodromes in France and Holland.

.Spitfires of the Second Eagle Squadron attacked an armed German ship in the North Sea and left is listing heavily. Off the south-east coast of England two enemy fighters which tried to attack shipping were shot down. IMPORTANT FACTORIES BOMBED IN MANNHEIM. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 20. The Air Ministry states that a powerful force of bombers last night heavily bombed objectives in Mannheim, the second-largest inland port in Europe. It has a number of important factories, including the Badische Aniline Works, the Lanz Armament Works and the Daimler Benz Engineering Works. The Germans say R.A.F. incendiaries and high explosives damaged residential quarters in several towns in South-Western Germany.