HEAVILY BLASTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1942, Page 3

HEAVILY BLASTED

GERMAN INLAND PORT OF DUISBURG GREAT FIRES LEFT BLAZING DAY AND MOONLIGHT ATTACKS, ON FRANCE AND LOW COUNTRIES. LONDON, December 21. A strong force of R.A.F. bombers last night raided the great German inland port and railway centre of Duisburg. It'was the 56th raid on this important centre of communications. The attack was heavy and concentrated and preliminary reports say it was highly successful. Big fires were left blazing all over Duisburg. Eleven aircraft did not get back. Besides being an important rail and river junction, Duisburg contains a submarine building yard and other important war factories. fn bright moonlight R.A.F. fighters shot up railway engines and other targets in France and the Low Countries. For the first time Whirlwinds took part and showed up pretty well. All the fighters got back. Yesterday’s big daylight raid on Romilly-sur-Seine, 80 miles south-east of Paris, is described as very satisfactory. German fighters did not go into action properly until the bombers were beyond -range of the fighter escort. The number of enemy fighters destroyed is not yet known, but it is said to 'be satisfactory. Six. American bombers were lost. The roofs of buildings and streets of a coastal town in south-west England were machine-gunned this afternoon by enemy raiders. Slight damage was done and one person was killed. WHIRLWIND PLANES INITIAL SUCCESS GAINED AS INTRUDERS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, December 21. Whirlwind bombers, which are twinengined single-seated fighters, or light bombers, scored their first success as intruders last night. One bombed a locomotive from 200 feet and destroyed it. Others penetrated deep into' France over a wide area and trains were attacked, one being shot up near Orleans. An ammunition dump, railway trucks and a small ship in a Belgian harbour were also bombed. All the intruders returned safely.