MAINZ BLITZED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1942, Page 3

MAINZ BLITZED

ON SECOND SUCCESSIVE NIGHT HEAVY DAMAGE ADMITTED BY NAZIS. WRECKED CITY UNDER GIGANTIC PALL OF SMOKE. LONDON, August 13. Mainz had its second blitz in two nights when the R.A.F. again attacked that industrial and transport centre last night, Many fires were still burning from Tuesday night’s bombing when the British planes resumed the attack last night. A strong force of bombers was sent over and the results were even better than those of Tuesday night. A gigantic pall of smoke spread over the city. The Germans admit that destruction was widespread. One enemy report states that it was one of the heaviest attacks ever made on a Rhineland town and speaks of collapsing buildings and spreading fires. Airfields in the Low Countries were also attacked. Five planes are missing. A German bomber was destroyed just before dark this evening off the south coast of England. Today a few bombs were dropped on coastal districts in the south-west and south-east. The Germans also lost a bomber last night in scattered raids on England. American fighter squadrons have made three operational flights with the R.A.F. in the past few days and have also taken part in a considerable number of sorties. INCREASING PART TAKEN BY AMERICAN AIRCRAFT. IN OPERATIONS OVER FRANCE & CHANNEL. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, August 13. United States Army Headquarters in the European theatre of operations states: “In the 48 hours to 9.a.m. on August 13, United States fighter squadrons, flying in conjunction with R.A.F. fighters, made three operational flights over the coast of France. United States fighters also took part in 20 sea sorties and eight interception sorties off the coast of England.” QUICK WORK SECOND ATTACK ON MAINZ. OVER IN ABOUT AN HOUR. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, August 13. Fires started at Mainz in Tuesday night’s raids were too much for the town’s fire-fighters, according to the Air Ministry news service. When the attack was renewed last night, the planes which arrived first had flown through a thick cloud, and clouds lay over Mainz itself. Crew after crew had to descend below the cloud base to pick out landmarks and pinpoint their objectives. Again the attack was concentrated, and it was over in about an hour.