Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Wednesday 5 April 1944, page 7


R.A.F. RAIDS BUDAPEST

Second Heavy

Attack

LONDON, April 4 (A.A.P.).Following the attack on Buda-pest, capital of Hungary, by large formations of American heavy bombers of the Mediterranean Air Force, in daylight on Monday, Liberators and Welling-tons of the R.A.F. from Mediter-ranean bases again struck instal-lations within the city last night.

Other formations of heavy bombers yesterday attacked the railway yards at Brod, Knin, and Drnis, in Yugo-

slavia.

The Russians made a number of light raids on Budapest in 1942, but yesterday was the first time the city had been visited by British or Ameri-can raiders in force. The city, which is about 260 miles from the furthest point of the Russian advance, is the nearest place to the Russian front yet bombed by the R.A.F. or American planes. It is about 450 miles from the Allied air base at Foggia, in

Italy.

HUGE FIRES STARTED

' The main targets in last night's

attack were the big steelworks and armament factory 11 miles south-west of the centre of the city. At least five huge fires were started.

Photographs which American "Hots had taken a few hours earlier showed the devastating eflect of hundreds of tons of bombs on Budapest's railway yards, which are among the most im-portant in tile Balkans, and also on an aircraft component factory, an air-field, an oil refinery, and ware-

houses.

Already there are signs that traffic through the Hungarian capital has been seriously dislocated. This traffic was largely directed towards the Russian front, the Balkans, and Italy.

The Hungarian Radio, in a special A.R.P. announcement after the day-light raid, said that all railway sta-tions had been closed and all roads blocked on the capital's outskirts. Only persons living there permanently or those with special travel permits could leave the city, but the evacua-tion of Budapest would be ordered

soon

Reporting the night attack the radio said that five waves of enemy planes carried out "a new terror at-tack on Budapest, but anti-aircraft suns and night fighters prevented the attack developing fully, though fires wore reported from some places."

The Hungarian Government met twice yesterday lo review the situa-

tion.

U.S. PLANES' RECORD

It is officiplly stated that the United States strategic air forces in Europe during Mardi droppîd 30,172 tons of bombs on war industries, and other vital elements of the German war machine. In these attacks they des-troyed 1,081 enemy planes, whila the continued attacks on enemy aircraft plants greatly reduced Germany's ability to replace these losses.

During the month 12,501 heavy bombers flew over Europe, and 12,501

fighters.

Of this force of bombers. 369. or less than three per cent., were lost, and 173, or a little more than one per cent, of I he fighters.

rive attacks were made on Berlin, costing HO bombers and 63 fighters, and during which 317 enemy planes

were shot down.