FIRST SWALLOWS OF INVASION ?

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 194, 15 May 1944, Page 5

FIRST SWALLOWS OF INVASION ?

German View Of Air Blitz On Occupied Areas (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) (Received May 14, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 14. The German High Command says British-American incursions into occupied western territory in the first ten days of May must be regarded as the first swallows of the invasion. The German overseas news agency says this is the first time the high command has used the expression “invasion ’ referring to the air war.

A strong force of Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the Eighth Air Force attacked an aircraft assembly plant at Tutow,-. railway marshalling yards, at Osnabruck and other industrial targets in Germany today. They were escorted by very strong forces of fighters. Thunderbolt fighter-bombers of the Ninth Air Force attacked railway yards at Namur and Tournai railway bridges leading into Hernthals, east of Antwerp, during the afternoon. During the morning Marauders and Havocs attacked four airfields in. France aud Belgium. ' The official account says that more than 500 tons of bombs were dropped on targets which included airfields at Abbeville-Tille in France and Chievres, 25 miles south-west of Brussels. Military objectives in northern France were also hit. None of our bombers is missing. There were dog-fights between escorting fighters and enemy planes. The British United Press reports that nearly 2000 American planes f participated in the attacks. . A United 'States Army Air Force com munique says: “Bombers encountered no enemy fighter opposition at Osnabruck, but formations attacking Tutow and also military targets in the Stettin area ana elsewhere-in Germany met strong resistance from enemy interceptors. Escorting Lightnings, Mustangs and Thunderbolts drove off and destroyed many enemy fighters before the enemy could reach tne Pinpoint raiding by fighter-bombers figured in today’s widespread operational

programme, states the Air Ministry news service. It was the 26th consecutive day of attacks on enemy transport and military targets on the Continent by the Second Tactical Air Force of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force. Railway stations, level crossings, troop billets, military motor- transport and other objectives throughout a wide area* in northern France were selected for attention by Spitfire and typhoon fighterbomber squadrons, specially briefed to make their attacks as swift and concentrated as possible. « Bethune railway station was one target attacked, hits being registered on tracks and buildings. , , . , In addition to fighter-oombers which flew without escort, 'Bostons and "tib* cliells, escorted by Spitfires, attacked railway yards at Tourcoing and Tactical Air Force Mustangs operated with United States heavy bombers in their attacks on Gernwo. industrial targets, which ineluded the synthetic oil refinery at Poelitz, a suburb of (Stettin.. Heavy bombers taking part in attacks on Germany numbered 500, while escort was in the neighbourhood of •SOO. Fifty-four enemy fighters were reported shot down by Allied fighters, nine by bombers. A number of enemy aircraft , on the ground were also shot up by ' fighters. Twelve bombers and ten fighters are missing. Aircraft of the Bomber Command were over Belgium in strength last night to attack railway yards at Louvain and Hassett, states an Air Ministry communique. Objectives' in France and north-west Germany were also bombed. Mines were laid in enemy waters. Fourteen of our aircraft are missing.