HEAVY POUNDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1943, Page 3

HEAVY POUNDING

GIVEN TO U-BOAT BASE AT ST. NAZAIRE NEARLY 300 BOMBERS USED ONLY ONE FAILS TO RETURN. OTHER NIGHT AND DAY OPERATIONS.LONDON, March 23. Nearly 300 four-engined bombers flew from Britain last night to give a heavy pounding to the U-boat base at St. Nazaire. The airmen fought their way out through difficult weather, which cleared over the target, the docks showing up well. St. Nazaire is strongly defended, but last night the flak was only moderate. The Germans seemed to rely principally on night fighters and a number of combats took place. Only one bomber did not come back. This was the only British aircraft missing from last night’s operations, which also included attacks on railway targets in Brittany. When the bombers returned, the ground weather conditions were very bad, and large numbers of the aircraft had to be diverted from their own bases to other airfields. One bomber had to make a forced landing. This afternoon British Mosquito bombers attacked locomotive works near St. Nazaire. All the Mosquitoes returned. German raiders attacked the southwest coast area just before dusk tonight. No damage is reported. BLAZE OF ACTIVITY FOLLOWS ON BRIEF LULL. ATTACKS ON WILHELMSHAVEN & ELSEWHERE. LONDON, March 22. After the lull due to bad weather the air war has flared up with 24 hours of almost continuous activity over the European coast from the Bay of Biscay in ’the south to Wilhelmshaven in the north. The offensive reopened with Whirlwinds last night attacking' western France for the second successive night, followed up by a raid by Venturas on Maaslius, in Holland, “train-busting” by fighters in Northern France, and a successful onslaught by Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the United States Eighth Army Air Force on Wilhelmshaven today. Berlin radio admitted, that damage and casualties resulted at Wilhelmshaven. The Air Ministry says that Whirlwinds last night, for the second night in succession, attacked-a viaduct at Morlaix, 33 miles from Brest, in spite of intense flak. The planes flew in low and several hits were seen on the target. Two railway bridges in the area which were vital to the Nazi supply line were also attacked .None of our planes is missing.