IMPRESSIVE FACTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1943, Page 3

IMPRESSIVE FACTS

DEVASTATION IN HAMBURG BIG PART OF CITY LAID WASTE VAST BRITISH ORGANISATION ENGAGED. OTHER RESULTS OF AIR ATTACKS. ißritish Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY, August 5. Speaking of the recent Hamburg attack, a R.A.F. commentator said in London today that of 4.000 acres of fully built up industrial areas in the city. 1,700 had been destroyed, and of 3,400 acres partly built up, 1,900 had been destroyed up to the night of August 2. Few people realised the vast organisation behind such attacks. In one heavy Hamburg attack between 5,000 and 6,000 airmen might be engaged, and a total of 100.000 persons when ground crews and others engaged, directly or indirectly, were taken into account.

Forty to 60 airfields might be used. From July 24 to July 31, the Bomber Command made a new record by dropping 12,000 tons of bombs from aircraft based on Britain. In the same period the Luftwaffe dropped between 60 and 70 tons on Britain. ASSAULTS ON SICILY. The commentator added that in the first week of the assault on Sicily, 15,000 sorties were made, over 6,000 tons of bombs were dropped, and over 300 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Over 500 aircraft based on Malta and Gozo (a small island of the Maltese group four miles north-west of Malta itself), where an airfield was made in 18 days, and night lighters from these islands, destroyed 46 long-range enemy bombers in that first week.

From Britain, the Fighter Command made over 11,000 offensive sorties in July, which is a record. The Air Ministry says results of these record fighter and bomber activities in July include about 100 locomotives destroyed or badly damaged by fighters and fighter-bombers, not including locomotives destroyed or damaged during attacks on railway centres.