Evening star., 1942-03-27
British Bombers Blast
Ruhr Valley Again.;
Essen Main Target
Perhaps ESQ Planes Take
Port in Raid; Other
Sections Pounded

LONDON, March 27.-British |
bombers attacked German Ruhr
industries in force again over
night, struck at enemy airdromes
in Holland, an oil refinery near
Ghent and the docks of LIE
Havre, the Air Ministry an
nounced today.
The loss of 13 bombers was
acknowledged.
The Air Ministry said Ruhr Valley
targets, under aerial fire for the
second night in succession, were
bombed heavily
Essen. home of the Krupp NUM-
tions works, which were smashed in
fierce attack two weeks ago, before
the weather. enforced lull, was said
to have been the main target of the
R. A. F.'s big bombers.
Heavy Attack on Ruhr.
1t was pointed out the r. A. F.s
attempts to "fatten" the huge
Krupp works came just when pro-
ductlon of tanks and munitions of
all kinds is needed vitality for Nazi
spring operations.
Squadron after squadron of heavy
bomberS, loaded with everything
from incendiaries to the tremendous
two-tonners, were said to have been
sent against the Ruhr.
The plastering given the Ruhr
was described unoficially as on
much the same scale as Wednesday
night when perhaps $50 heavy
bombers participated.
/ During a thrust against bases in
German occupied territory "our
fighters destroyed an enemy bomber
in air combat" a communique re-
ported. In addition, 1t said, IAN
enemy bomber was destroyed over
this country last night"
Enemy Convoy Attacked.
Coastal command aircraft made
a loW-level bombing attack on an
enemy convoy off the Frisian
Islands yesterday afternoon and
scored hits on medium sized sup
| ply ship" the ministry said.
A high-f1ying German formation,
hidden by haze, made a brief thrust
toward the southeast coast today,
but was driven off
R. A. F. fighters rose swiftly to
intercept the Germans and bursts
Of cannon fire were heard Then
| the raiders turned back toward bases
in German-occupied France. The
sound of the motors indicated there
was considerable number of planes
| in the formation.
The British aerial offensive ap-
parently was we'll under way again.
The new assaults were a continual
ton of an almost nonstop British
aerial offensive launched the night
before when clearing weather freed
the R. A. F.'s long-grounded heavy
bomber squadrons.
Starting Wednesday night when
hundreds of bombers raided the
Ruhr area in one of the mightiest air
stabs yet made on Germany, the
r. A. F. also few over France and
Italy and continued through day
light with bombardment of Ger
man shipping in the French port
OF LIE Havre.
Included 4-Engine Bombers.
The raiding force last night re-
portedly included four-engine
bombers capable of carrying tre-
mendous tWo-ton explosives.
By returning again to the Ruhr
last night, the R. A. F. was pounding
at center of German war industries
which already had been heavily bat
tered In recent attacks.
The Air Ministry disclosed that
daylight reconnaissance planes over
Cologne several days after the fierce
March 13 raid there had brought
home pictures showing even more
damage than was believed at first.
1t said the Franz Clouth rubber
works, a chemical plant, a block OF
buildings and communications CEN
ter were shown to have been de-
stroyed.
In another area of the city. It
added, railway yards were hit, work
shops were gutted and freight cars
were scattered by explosives over
an area OF $4,000 square yards.
Intellectual Nazi counter air
blows were reported officially in a
communique which said "a small
number of enemy aircraft dropped
| bombs at a few places in northeast
England early last night, but caused
onl yone slight casualty and damage
only one slight casualty and damage
land also were bombed.
Is Shot Down, Nazis Claim.
BERLIN from German broad
casts March q (P).-The high COM
mand said today anti-aircraft gun
nerS and night fighters shot down
! Is British bombers on raids in West
ern Germany last night.