AT FULL PRESSURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1943, Page 3

AT FULL PRESSURE

AIR BLASTING OF HITLER’S EUROPE HEAVY NIGHT ONSLAUGHT ON RHINELAND CITIES. 1 500 TONS OF BOMBS ON MANNHEIM & LUDWIGSHAFEN. LONDON, September 6. Hundreds of Allied bombers and fighters, from bases in Britain, kept up their devastating attacks on Hitler’s Europe today. Throughout the day strong formations of aircraft have been seen crossing and recrossing the Channel. As dusk approached tonight bombers and fighters were still seen heading towards France. This activity followed on a big R.A.F. raid lalt night on the great German industrial twin cities of Mannheim and Ludwigshafen, in the Rhineland. The attack began shortly before 11 o’clock and lasted three-quarters of an hour. In that time 1,500 tons of high explosives and incendiaries were dropped on the closely packed industries in the area—at the rate of 33 tons a minute. A number of German night fighters were shot down and the R.A.F. lost 34 bombers.

FIERCE AIR BATTLES OVER SOUTHERN GERMANY. REPORTED BY NAZI NEWS AGENCY. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 6. The German news agency says United States bombers flew over Southern Germany this morning, and that fierce air battles are at present going on in the region of Wurtemburg and Baden.

accurate bombing GREAT FIRES STARTED. AT LEAST 11 ENEMY AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, September 6. Fires' in Mannheimm and Ludwigshafen were visible 180 miles away and photographs so far plotted show that the bomb-aimers had their target dead in their sights. The weather was very clear, with visibility up to 30 miles. The attack began shortly before 11 p.m. and lasted for three-quarters of an hour. The enemy used every kind of defence. Searchlights made a complete circle round the target and flak also was extremely violent in the early stages, but both light's and flak were reduced by bombs. Fighters were on patrol in great numbers. At least eleven enemy machines were destroyed.