Evening star., 1943-06-24
RAF Bombers Make Round T rib
To Africa, Raid Nozis on Way
Down and Italians on Way Back
Shuttle Technique
Is Used First Time
On Large Scale
By the Associated Press.

technique of air bombardment
was demonstrated by several
Squadrons of RAF LancaSters,
which early today completed
shuttle round trip from Britain
to Africa. bombing a German
target on the way down and an
Italian port on the run home
without loss of a plane.
The Air Ministry disclosed that
the aircraft which devastated three
acres of the old Zeppelin works at
Friedrichshafen Sunday night con-
tinued to a North African base and
returned home last night by way of
La Spezia, blasting the naval base
at the latter port.
This shuttle technique never was
used before on a large scale at long
range.
Air observers said the most obvi-
Gus advantage was that the raiders
were able to land and reservice with
out retracing A course along which
the enemy defenses already had
been alerted by the outward passage.
1850 Miles Each Way.
The Lancasters made run OF
some 1850 miles each way. going 500
miles to Friedrichshafen in South
ern Germany and presumably 75O
miles to the nearest North African
bases.
On the way back they winged
about $50 miles to La Spezia and TOO
home. Thus each trip was some
what shorter than the regular l,4OO-
mile round trip to La Spezia.
Formations of Allied planes picked
up the offensive again in daylight.
During the morning aircraft were
heard over Folkestone, wlnglng
toward Northern France and Bel
gium.
Official air sources refused to spec
ulate on whether the successful trial
trips across Europe could be accepted
as a pattern for the future.
Mai. Gen. James H. Doolittle's at
tack on TOXIC was partial applica-
ton of the principle, in that the
American bombers took off from a
carrier and landed in China.
Speculation Aroused.
The Raj feat aroused speculation
as to whether the American Air
Forces might stage similar raids.
The range of the Flying Fortresses
and Liberators would make such
runs possible at least across France
to Northern Italy.
Officiallv described only as "Sev-
eral squadronS means at
least several dozen planes-the Lam
caster force was strong enough to
Law in waste three acres of the
important radio location equipment
plant in the Zeppelin works at
Friedrichshafen and also to damage
severely the Maybach Werke motor
plant on the way out.
On the return trip the docks at
La Spezia were bombed, the COM
munique said, and stores of oil set
afire.
The La Spezia attack represented
the first Raj assault on Northern
Italv since April l3, when big fleet
of bombers hit the naval base there.
During the night German raiders
made their heaviest attack in weeks
against an English objective.
Is Planes Attack Hull.
It was announced that Is enemy
planes pounded the port city of Hull
in an attack lasting more than an
hour. destroying mu cum and valu-
able exhibits. part Of the shopping
center and residential property
Thousands of incendiarieS set fires
which were not brought under con-
troll until after dawn.
The casualty toll still was climbing
early today, with rescue squads dig
ging out bodies of those buried in
the wreckage of their homes.
The Berlin radio said Allied planes
also were over Germany during the
night, asserting that few made
nuisance raids in the western
sector.
Another German broadcast of a
DNB dispatch, recorded by the As
Sociated Press. asserted that a for
nation of British planes attacked
a German convoy off Flushing, Hol-
land. from low level this morning.
The report was not Immediately
confirmed by the British.
No News of Fortress Raid.
There still was no announcement
concerning fleet of Flying Fort
resses seen by coastal observers re-
turning yesterday from Europe.
Although the attacks from the
Allies Mediterranean bases have
been concentrated mainly on South
ern Italy, Flying Fortresses battered
La Spezia June 5.
In the offensive against Europe,
still steadily mounting in fury, Brit
ish Bostons and Typhoons. escorted
by fighters, attacked targets at
Meaulte, st. Omer and Maupertus
in France late yesterday. The at
tackers destroyed two enemy planes
without loss to themselves.
One pilot reported concentrated
fires raging for about two square
miles" in Muelheim. hammered by
hundreds of RAF heavy bombers
TlesdaV night