R.A.F. DROPS 2,000 TONS OF BOMBS IN AN HOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1943, Page 3

R.A.F. DROPS 2,000 TONS OF BOMBS IN AN HOUR

Making 100,000 Tons on German Cities to Date DEFENCES OF RUHR CITY SWAMPED GRIM PROMISE BY CHIEF OF BOMBER COMMAND LONDON, Kay 24. The R.A.F. has dropped 100,000 tons of bombs on Germany alone. Two thousand tons were dropped on Dortmund last night—the heaviest weight of bombs dropped in any single raid so far. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, Chief of the Bomber Command, in a message to R.A.F. crews, stated that Goering said in 1939 that not a single enemy bomber would reach the Ruhr. Air Chief Marshal Harris congratulated them on having delivered the first 100,000 tons of bombs to Germany. The next 100,000 tons, he said, if the Germans wait for them, will be even bigger and better bombs and will be delivered more accurately and in a much shorter time.

In last night’s raid on Dortmund, in the Ruhr, over 2,000 tons of bombs were dropped in an hour, at the rate of 35 tons a minute. The attack was so concentrated that the crews had to keep a sharp lookout to avoid collisions. The German defences were swamped. The anti-aircraft fire died down and searchlights split up. The Germans themselves admit that considerable damage was done.

One Halifax bomb-aimer was asked how many fires he saw. “Just one, ’’ he replied. ‘ ‘lt was all over the target. ’’ Another bomb-aimer said: “I guess Dortmund is not much use for anything' now.” THE LOSS OF 38 PLANES REPRESENTS ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE HUGE RAIDING FORCE SENT OUT. THE WEIGHT OF BOMBS DROPPED IS MORE THAN FIVE TIMES THE WEIGHT DROPPED ON LONDON IN ANY SINGLE RAID BY THE LUFTWAFFE AT THE PEAK OF ITS BLITZ TWO YEARS AGO.