TERRIBLE HALF-HOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1943, Page 3

TERRIBLE HALF-HOUR

GIVEN TO GERMAN CITY OF STUTTGART. RAIN OF R.A.F. BOMBS “FIRES ALL OVER THE PLACE” ELEVEN ATTACKING PLANES LOST. LONDON, March 12. Last night the R.A.F. attacked Stuttgart, in the third major attack this week by the R.A.F’s. four-engined bombers on industrial centres in Southern Germany. Like Nuremberg and Munich, Stuttgart is dotted with factories, .which make aero engines, tank engines, aircraft and U-boat components. Ad three towns are strongholds of the Nazi Party. The raid on Stuttgart was all over in half an hour. The pilots said it was a terrible half-hour for the Germans, with fires all over the place, especially in the southern district. Anti-aircraft gunfire was not intense. The Germans again seemed to rely chiefly on night fighters. One was shot down. Eleven bombers were lost Stuttgart has a population of 500,000, most of whom are engaged in precision engineering. The Bosch factory at Stuttgart manufactures magnetos, spark plugs, and other electrical apparatus. RAIDS ON BRITAIN NINE GERMAN AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN. FIVE OVER THAMES ESTUARY IN DAYLIGHT. LONDON, March 12. The Germans, after losing five aircraft over Britain this morning, and four last night, sent over five more hit and run raiders this afternoon to attack a coastal town in south-west England. Shops and houses were damaged, and rescue squads are at work searching for victims among the debris.' This morning the raiders came over just as Londoners were going to work. The raiding force was 24 strong when it flew up the Thames Estuary, and 19 at most when it flew out to sea in disorder. A Norwegian squadron of the R.A.F. Fighter Command shot down all five of the victims without getting even a bullet-hole in any of their own aircraft. Most of the raiders, which came in two waves, a dozen in each, were Focke-Wulf fighter-bombers. In one of the outer districts of London raiders machine-gunned a shopping centre and dropped bombs on the shops. Five or six swooped down to about roof-level to make their attacks. It was a short but sharp raid. Four German raiders over the northeast coast were shot down last night. After raining flares over one town they dropped fire-bombs and incendiaries. Only minor damage was done. They ran into a terrific barrage. RAILWAY TARGETS ATTACKED BY FLYING FORTRESSES. SPITFIRES DESTROY THREE NAZI FIGHTERS. LONDON, March 12. American Flying Fortresses based in Britain delivered today’s instalment of the Anglo-American air offensive by attacking railway targets at Roujsn,.,, in .Northern France. The results are officially described as good. The Fortresses were safely escorted by squadrons of Spitfires. Not one of the challenging German fighters penetrated their screen and the Spitfires won a three to nil victory in the dogfights which were fought out. INTRUDER PATROLS OVER HOLLAND & BRITTANY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY, March 12. Fighter Command aircraft, two of which are missing, last night carried out intruder patrols over Holland and Brittany. BOMB VICTIMS CASUALTIES IN BRITAIN. LOW-FLYING ATTACK MADE ON HOSPITAL. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. Eight people were killed when four bombs dropped in a district on the outskirts of London. Three other persons were buried in the ruins of their home. Of 24 planes which came up the Thames Estuary, about twelve were carrying bombs. The others were acting as fighter cover. Raiders machine-gunned three passenger trains in East Anglia and a freight train in a railway yard. Four Focke-Wulfs attacked a place in the Greater London area. One machine-gunned a hospital from a low level. Nurses and patients saw the raider come in guns blazing, but took the raid calmly. The raider's aim was bad and only a few bullets went through the roof. Six raiders; from roof-top level, bombed two other residential areas in Greater London and then machine-gunned streets. They gunned the entrance to a station. People going to work dropped to the ground as cannon shells hit shops and offices. Several shops were destroyed and others were damaged. Early in the afternoon five sneak raiders flew over a south-west coast town and dropped bombs, causing damage to shops and private property and some casualties.