PROOFS OF DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1943, Page 4

PROOFS OF DAMAGE

IN HEAVY BOMBING ATTACK ON AACHEN NIGHT OF CLEAR WEATHER. COMBATS ALL THE WAY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) o RUGBY, July 14. A reconnaissance pilot who flew over Aachen early this morning reported that thick smoke was drifting away east of the town and stretched as far as the pilot could see. The night attack by British bombers was heavy and there were a good number of 8000 pounders in the big load of high explosives. Nearly every aircraft in one squadron of Lancasters carried an 8,000 pounder with incendiaries, to make up the weight. The Germans depended almost entirely on night fighters to defend this important railway centre, through which traffic from the Ruhr is sent westwards and products from France are sent to Germany. Searchlights from around the town were handicapped because of cloud and flak not heavy by German standards, but the weather along most of the route was ideal for night fighters. One pilot described it as “night masquerading as day” and there were combats all the way from the coast to Aachen and back again.

“TERROR RAID” ACCORDING TO THE NAZIS. (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, July 14. Today’s German communique says: “The R.A.F. last night made a heavy “terror raid" on Aachen and greatly damaged residential quarters, destroyed public buildings and cultural monuments. The Aachen Cathedral was hit and the population sustained heavy casualties.” HEINKEL DESTROYED SHOT DOWN INTO NORTH SEA (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 14. Coastal Command Beaufighters today shot down a Heinkel 111 over the North Sea. The enemy aircaft was last seen diving into the sea and breaking into bits as it went down.