MUCH DAMAGE DONE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1942, Page 3

MUCH DAMAGE DONE

IN AND AROUND OSNABRUCK ANOTHER CONCENTRATED BRITISH RAID. FIGHTERS ACTIVE DURING DAY. LONDON, August 18. R.A..F. bombers made another raid last night on Osnabruck, the industrial and railway centre in the Ruhr. The raid was over in one and a half hours, but within that time 50,000 incendiaries and many of the heaviest highexplosive bombs were dropped on objectives in and around the town. A week ago the R.A.F. left many large fires burning after an attack. Many more buildings were set alight and much damage done in last night's raid. There were two big fires running from north to south. The Germans put up a heavy barrage and many night fighters were active. Enemy airfields in occupied countries were also attacked. Five bombers were lost. Spitfires kept the enemy active over a wide front in a series of small-scale sweeps from Le Havre to Abbeville. Two German planes were shot down. Three British machines are missing. There was slight enemy air activity during the day, mainly over coastal areas in South England . Some damage and a small number of casualties are reported. Early tonight, four fight-er-bombers dropped bombs on a southeast coast town and caused damage to shops and. houses. HAVOC IN MAINZ SHOWN IN PHOTOGRAPHS. FURIOUS GERMAN THREATS. LONDON, August 17. The devastation wrought on the German city of Mainz by the British raids on August 11 and 12 is shown by photographs. About 135 acres of the city have been totally destroyed. Apart from this, other parts of Mainz and the suburbs show effects of the weight of British bombs. The German Press is still trying to stimulate morale under British bombing by threatening Britain with all the power of the Luftwaffe. The “Frankfurter Zeitung” says that when the bulk of the German air force is no longer tied up in Russia, things beyond the wildest imagination will happen to the British. Then they will realise what the Luftwaffe really js. A column of fire will scorch the island. ENEMY FIGHTER SHOT DOWN BY WELLINGTON BOMBER. AFTER OSNABRUCK RAID. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, August 18. Anti-aircraft fire encountered in the latest raid on Osnabruck was fierce, and enemy fighters were very active around the town and along the route. One Wellington was attacked from behind, over the sea on its way home, but the rear-gunner shot down the attacker. Another fighter attacked from the front and set one wing ot the Wellington on fire, but a rush of wind blow it out and the machine landed safely. • A Spitfire squadron destroyed a Heinkel 115 off the French coast this morning, and damaged a Heinkel 59. Both these machines are float-planes. They were accompanied by six FockeWulfs. Two of our planes are missing. NEW DEEP SHELTERS NINE PREPARED IN LONDON. LONDON, August 17. Nine new deep shelters in London, with a capacity of 70.000, have now been completed after eighteen months work, reports the “Daily Express. Few people, apart from officials, know their whereabouts or even their existence. Most of the new shelters are entered from tube stations. They will be opened if raiding again becomes heavy.