The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-26
German War Industry Center Was Smashed
"A total of 52 aircraft from all commands are missing"
 Many Nations In Raid
Continued from Page D

"A total of 52 aircraft from all commands are missing"
 Many Nations In Raid
 Canadians, Poles, Czechs and American volunteers of the Royal Air Force joined Britons in the raid in which mammoth four motor ed bombers, carrying up to eight tons of bombs each, patterned target area of almost unequalled importance in all Germany.
 Criss- crossing Bremen, a city of 350,O00 in an intricate pattern which Air Marshal Sir A. T. Harris, com manding the bomber command, had worked out to the last detail, the planes hurled bombs up to 4,4S0 pounds in eight on such targets as the Deschimag and Atlas Submar- inc Works, shipyards large enough to build transatlantic luxury liners, a dive bomber factory, the giant Focke- -WulH Airplane works, cot- ton mills and the largest high grade oil refinery in Germany.
 Word spread through London at dawn that the air force had made it's greatest raid since that on Essen June 1.
 For hours the air ministry re- fused to make a statement. But in mid-morning it became apparent that the raid was another or history making proportions.
 Extra editions of the afternoon papers appeared in the streets, blazoning the word that raid of something like the 1000 plane level had been made.
 Great our-motored bombers of all types and fast two-motored craft were in the raid.
 They were covered by a strong force of fighters and fighter-bomb- CT planes, probably including the crack American-made Douglas Bos- tons. which struck at enemy air. dromes in occupied France, Belgium and the Netherlands to keep down or knock out German night fighters which might have challenged the bombardment planes.
 Winging $50 miles or more across the North Sea and the low coun- tries, the bomber fleet hit the river Weser and started showering their bombs on the entire Bremen area, one in which 1t would be hard to drop a bomb of the new British devastation type without hitting a war target.
 Incendiary bombs were mixed with the high explosive demolition bombs to ensure that the resultant fires would multiply the damage. Last Attack June 3 Bremen had had its last attack one on the 300 plane level which is now of secondary importance for the Royal Air Force, on the night of June 8.
 Today's was the 95th British at- tack on the city since the war l started.
 Not a single German plane was reported over the British Isles dur | ing the night while the Royal Air Force was taking advantage of a full moon.
 It was made known that not only bad weather but the necessity of | diverting big bonbers strength to other war areas, such as the Mid de East. had caused lull in the | 1000 plane raids.
 Aviation quarters reported that large numbers Of heavy homhers had been flown eastward recently, some destined for the middle eastern command.
 There has been some criticism here that the Royal Air Force was hoarding planes which could be used in North Africa. but 1t is now possible to say that instead the | bomber commands program was set back because planes had been di- l verted.
 It was believed that in last nights raid, the Royal Air Force must have left great areas contain ing important war targets in ruins The entire mouth of the WeSer l from Bremerhaven on the sea to Bremen 40 miles upriver, is a wal target.
 ! Bremen's dock area contains one | of the biggest submarine building yards in the world. At the Focke- Wulff plant both fighter planes and the great Condorg which raid ocean commerce are built. The sIhipyards which can build the greatest liners are believed now to be making sub marines.