GREAT DAMAGE DONE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1943, Page 3

GREAT DAMAGE DONE

IN R.A.F. NIGHT ATTACKS ON HANOVER AND OTHER TARGETS MANY BIG FIRES STARTED BATTLES WITH ENEMY FIGHTERS LONDON, September 28. R.A.F. bombers again attacked industrial Germany last night in very great strength. Hanover, a big railway centre between Berlin and Hitler’s western defences,, was the main target. The R.A.F. also bombed the naval base of Emden again and the industrial area of Brunswick. Many big fires were started in Hanover. Last night bad weather was encountered over the North Sea. but from the enemy coast to the target area visibility was good and the crews were able to pick out their objectives clearly. Enemy fighters were met as soon as the bombers were over enemy territory and many flares were dropped from a great height over Hanover. The enemy also massed many searchlights into one gigantic cone. The fires started could be seen when the bomber crews were crossing the coast on their way home. The attack on Emden followed yesterday’s heavy raid by American Flying Fortresses, which dropped a thousand tons of bombs over a wide area. Brunswick, which was also attacked, is on the main railway line from Berlin. Fighter intruders had a good night over north-western Germany and Holland. They shot down seven enemy aircraft. All these operations cost 38 bombers and one fighter. HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED ON GERMANS IN ALLIED DAYLIGHT OPERATIONS (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, September 27. Today was a black day for the Luftwaffe defending the European fortress, British and American air • forces destroying 58 German fighters for the loss of eight Uombers and seven fighters. It is officially announced that the strong formations of Flying Fortresses raiding Emden and also Aurich destroyed 18 fighters. Escorting Thunderbolts shot down 22. Marauders attacking airfields in France shot down four fighters, and escorting R.A.F.. Dominion and Allied fighters shot down 14 more. Our losses were seven heavy bombers, one medium bomber, and seven fighters.