100 TONS OF BOMBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1943, Page 3

100 TONS OF BOMBS

DROPPED ON ESSEN IN TWELVE MINUTES ATTACKS REGARDLESS OF WEATHER BEING DEVELOPED BY R.A.F. DAY & NIGHT OPERATIONS. LONDON, January 14. In spite of Jlie weatlier being' far from good the R.A.F. lias been raiding enemy objectives day and night in the first fourteen days of 1943. The weight of bombs dropped during this period lias been far heavier than might have been expected under the weatlier conditions and the results show an improvement in the all-weather qualities which the R.A.F. is trying to achieve. Although the forces used have not been big, they have achieved good results and have kept the enemy defences busv.

Last night the R.A.F. set Essen ablaze, when 100 tons of : high explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped within twelve minutes. Heavy four-engine bombers were used in this attack. Four aircraft were Jost. The progress made in this form of attack has been encouraging. In eight raids not more than 23 aircraft have been lost. R.A.F. fighters were also out last night in intruder patrols over France arid Holland. One did not return. Earlier yesterday evening R.A.F. Coastal Command aircraft attacked a convoy off the Dutch coast. Thej’’ scored hits on at least two mediumsized merchant ships. Aircraft of Army Co-operation Command attacked locomotives and other railway targets in Northern France today. All returned safely.