PRECISION BOMBING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1943, Page 3

PRECISION BOMBING

FLYING FORTRESSES STRIKE ' AT ST. NAZAIRE U-BOAT DOCKS BLASTED. IMPORTANT AIRFIELD ALSO DAMAGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 29.

A large force of American heavy bombers attacked two important targets in occupied France early last evening. One large formation of Flying Fortresses bombed U-boat installations at St. Nazaire, while another strong force attacked a fighter airfield at Beaumont le Roger, starting large fires. The bombing results in both targets were good. Intense anti-aircraft fire and also some fighter opposition were encountered by one formation; and the Fortresses destroyed a number of enemy fighters. R.A.F. Spitfires and American Thunderbolts carried out supporting operations. Six of the bombers are missing. It is indicated by reports that the raid on St. Nazaire was the perfection of nigh altitude precision bombingFor several months the Germans have been building a third lock in the St. Nazaire submarine basin and photographs show that all three locks have been smashed. The absence of night fighter opposition gave the Fortresses every chance. “We could not miss the target and we didn’t,” said one of the pilots.

NAZI ADMISSION OF TERRIBLE DEVASTATION. LONDON, June 28. The German newspaper “Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung” says that the air raids against the Ruhr have caused devastation on a scale that could not have been foreseen by the German authorities. “Not even our most extensive rehabilitation plans provided for such devastation,” it states. “The effect of the Allies’ air raids must not be minimised. A long period of reconstruction will be necessary to remove the traces that are left. It is only human that this destruction and the growing demands should affect the people.”

LITTLE TROUBLED BY ENEMY OPPOSITION. FLYING FORTRESSES OVER LEGHORN. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 29. The raid against Leghorn was the easiest yet undertaken by Flying Fortresses, says the Exchange Telegraph s Algiers correspondent. Only one enemy fighter was encountered and it cleared off when tackled. One hundred Fortresses, without loss to themselves, participated in the raid. The entire port was covered with smoke and five hours later the extent of the damage was unascertainable owing to the smoke, but it is known that a light cruiser and four supply boats were damaged . Strips of railway track outside the city were blown to pieces. Marauders and Mitchells which bombed airfields in Sardinia met strong opposition from enemy fighters, eleven of which were shot down. Today’s Italian communique admits considerable damage in Leghorn and says 185 persons were killed and 354 injured as a result of the Leghorn, Reggio di Calabria and Messina raids.