ATTACK ON HANOVER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1943, Page 3

ATTACK ON HANOVER

MADE BY STRONG FORCE OF BOMBERS MOSQUITOS AGAIN RAID BERLIN. HITS SCORED ON SHIPS OFF DUTCH COAST. LONDON, October 19. An R.A.F. attack on Ilanover last night was macle by a strong force of Lancaster four-engine bombers. On account of cloud, the Germans had to rely mainly on anti- % aircraft guns for their defence. The battery of searchlights was also hampered by the clouds. The ‘aircraft crews were not able to sec the full results of the bombing. At least one German fighter was destroyed. The night's operations included another attack on Berlin by Mosquitos and op targets in Western Germany. Seventeen aircraft were lost. Hanover was last attacked on October 8, when industrial sections of the city were wiped out, fires being started which were still burning three days later. Hanover, in addition to possessing Germany’s largest synthetic rubber works, is an important transport junction. Beaufighters with a Spitfire escort attacked German shipping off the Dutch coast today. A merchant ship, the Strasbourg, was in tow, after having been aground for some weeks. The enemy wireless alleged that the Strasbourg was a hospital ship. This is not true. As the British aircraft attacked, they were fired at from the ship and one of their aircraft was shot down. Several hits were scored on the Strasbourg and three escort ships were damaged.

The German news agency now states that the Strasbourg is not a hospital ship.