HEAVILY POUNDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1943, Page 3

HEAVILY POUNDED

TWO GERMAN INDUSTRIAL CITIES BOMBERS BREAK THROUGH FIGHTER SCREEN. , MOSQUITOES ALSO MAKE EXTENDED RAIDS. LONDON, August 10. R.A.F. bombers which made very heavy attacks on Mannheim an Ludwigshaven, last night had to fight their way to the targets through a screen of enemy fighters. The clouds made the enemy rely mainly on night fighters for defence. The searchlights lighted up the base of the clouds, so that the bombers would be silhouetted. The glare of fires started by the bombers could be seen 100 miles away.

Mannheim and its neighbouring town of Ludwigshaven have a population of over half a million. Mannheim manufactures tanks, motor vehicles, aero engines and submarine Diesel engines, while Ludwigshaven is a chemical centre. Mosquitoes were also out over Germany last night, attacking targets in the Ruhr. Railways and airfields in France and the Low Countries _ were also attacked. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed in last night’s operations. Nine bombers are missing. FIGHTERS OVER FRANCE. Fighter squadrons carried out sweeps over Northern France during daylight yesterday, attacking rail and road communications. A few German aircraft were over the south-west coast of England yesterday. They were met by a heavy barrage. No bombs were dropped.