RAIN OF BOMBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1943, Page 3

RAIN OF BOMBS

POURED DOWN ON SKODA FACTORIES EVIDENCE OF TREMENDOUS HAVOC. MANNHEIM ALSO HEAVILY POUNDED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 17. A British Air Ministry communique says that last night more than 600 aircraft of the Bomber Command, in the biggest night operations of this year, heavily attacked two of the most important centres of German armament production. Lancesters and Halifaxes in great force penetrated to the Skoda works at Pilsen, Thirty-seven are missing. At the same time another force of Wellingtons Stirlings, and Halifaxes attacked the armaments centre of Mannheim-Lud-wigshafen. Eighteen are missing. Both attacks were concentrated and successful. This was Filsen’s fifth raid and Mannheim’s fifty-sixth by the R.A.F. Last night’s loss of 55 aircraft is the biggest the R.A.F. has sustained in any one night’s activity, the largest previous loss being 52 from the 1000-bom-ber raid on Bremen on June 25. But it is pointed out that the conditions last night specially favoured fighter interception, and it was known before the raids were undertaken that high losses must be expected. It is estimated that over 1500 tons of bombs were dropped in last night’s two raids, or more than three times the greatest weight dropped on London in one raid. By far the heavier of the two attacks was that on the great Skoda works, which cover 320 acres. One pilot, describing the event, said: “Four thousand-pounders were pouring into the target at a fantastic rate.” Skoda, the third largest armament works in Europe, has been operated by the Hermann Goering Combine since the occupation of Czechoslovakia, and it is known that since the great damage was done to Krupp’s the Germans have been relying on Skoda for increased output to sustain the needs of the Wehrmacht. FIRES & EXPLOSIONS. Within a few minutes last night the whole factory area seemed a mass of smoke, with flashes from exploding bombs coming up through it and leaving a red glow of fires. As the attack progressed there was a succession of explosions, culminating in two extremely heavy ones. In spite of occasional cloud patches the weather was generally so clear that the pilots could see for many miles. The first bomber reached the target at 1.30 a.m. The weight of the attack appeared to surprise the Germans. The flak was only moderate and searchlights were so few that they could be counted, but along their route, the bombers, outward and homeward-bound, had to face considerable numbers of lurking fighters, with a bright moon overhead. A squadron leader said: “All my crew knew only too well the risks involved in penetrating enemy territory so deeply, but they also knew they were bombing a target the destruction of which would be worth a division, or even an army corps, to the Russians.” The attack on Mannheim began earlier and was concentrated into 20 minutes, Many good fires were left burning, and the Rhine was sparkling with the reflection of the flames. A column of smoke following an explosion toward the end of the raid rose 6000 ft. RUSSIANS OUT AGAIN. The damage to Skoda, following upon that to Krupp's, is bound to have a far-reaching effect, while the raid on Mannheim will not only hamper the war effort in Germany, but also will dislocate transport supplies to Italy and North Africa. Ludwigshafen, which is a satellite town on the opposite bank of the Rhine from Mannheim, has huge chemical plants. The Moscow radio says: “Soviet aircraft last night raided Koenigsberg and Danzig. The attacks lasted two hours. Three bombers are missing.” This was the fourth raid on Koenigsberg in a week. MINOR RAID MADE BY THE GERMANS ON BRITAIN. FOUR PLANES LOST FROM SMALL FORCE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 17. By contrast to the massive attacks by the Allies, the Luftwaffe last night, husbanding its bomber strength, sent about 15 fighter-bombers over the south-east of England. The manoeuvre was unsuccessful, the enemy losing four raiders. Bombs which were dropped in scattered places caused slight damage and a small number of casualties. Two of the raiders reached the Greater London area.