NAZI ADMISSIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1942, Page 4

NAZI ADMISSIONS

HEAVY LOSSES & DAMAGE IN HAMBURG ATTACK HEAVIEST YET MADE. EXCEPT THOUSAND BOMBER RAIDS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 27. The R.A.F. raid on Hamburg last night was the biggest yet made on Germany, excepting the three thousand-bomber raids. Berlin officially stated that the Hamburg attack caused heavy civilian losses and that many buildings were destroyed, especially in residential quarters. The importance of Hamburg to the Germans is made apparent by the defence system, which is stated by experts to be the best in Germany. The present full moon, states the Air Ministry news service, is the first since the spring when the nights have been long enough to bring Hamburg within range of a heavy raid. Last night’s destructive attack came as the climax of a week’s heavy bombing. Earlier raids, with Duisberg as the main target, were made in poor weather, but last night there was no cloud at all, and the crews were able to make the most of the moonlight. After reading reports on the raid from all the Bomber groups, Air Marshal Harris sent a message to the crews congratulating them on a magnificent effort against Hamburg, and stating that their work during the past week would long be remembered by Germany. Losses for the week’s raiding against such well-defended areas have not been heavy. When they are considered as a ’whole, under five per cent of the total number employed are missing.

The attack on Hamburg began just before 1 a.m., when the first wave of heavy and medium bombers, loaded with the maximum of incendiaries, came in. The second wave also dropped more incendiaries than highexplosives, with the result that over 175,000 incendiary bombs were dropped in 35 minutes, and much of the old town was on fire. There were fires all found the Aussen Alster Lake and many in the dock area. Pillars of black smoke rose, but as these did not drift over the town, the target was clear for the last wave, which was fully loaded with high-explosives,' including 4.0001 b. bombs. Everything was so clear that all the targets were selected within a quarter of an hour. The fires continued to spread, and the last crews to leave saw them burning long after they had left the target. •