FIERCE ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1943, Page 3

FIERCE ATTACK

ON ENEMY CONVOY OFF DUTCH COAST MADE BY COASTAL COMMAND AIRCRAFT. SHIP SUNK AND OTHERS DAMAGED. LONDON, June 14. R.A.F. bombers went to Germany again last night, when the main targets were in the Rhineland. Other aircraft laid mines in enemy waters. Coastal Command Beaufighters attacked a convoy off the Dutch coast. They torpedoed a 5000-ton ship, sank a smaller merchant ship and damaged at least four escorting vessels. The Beaufighters attacked in face of intense anti-aircraft fire. More than one torpedo hit the largest ship and there was a big explosion. A smaller vessel sank immediately. A trawler was left In flames. The convoy was scattered. All this occurred in the space of four minutes. One bomber and one Beaufighter are missing.

RESULTS OF BOMBING DEVASTATION IN DORTMUND. GREAT STEEL WORKS LARGELY WIPED OUT. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 13. Dortmund is probably the most heavily damaged city in Germany for its size, states the Air Ministry news service. Photographs taken after the heavy raid on May 23 reveal that in the closely-packed centre of the city alone at least 150 acres were devastated, mostly by fire. Eight hundred and eighty office and administration buildings in large city blocks have been destroyed or severely damaged. A vital target was the great Hoesch Company’s steel works, more than three-quarters of which was devastated, including three or four rolling mills, the forge, and the administrative block. The Hoesch Company had a huge output of ingot shells and forgings for tanks. It was second in importance to Krupps.