RANGING AT WILL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 200, 22 May 1944, Page 5

RANGING AT WILL

Allied Aircraft Over France WIDESPREAD TARGETS (By Telegraph.—Press Assu.—Copyright.) (Received May 21, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 20. During Saturday aircraft of the Allied expeditionary air force flew over 4000 sorties on enemy targets. Fighters and fighter-bombers of the second tactical air force ranged at will over northern France and.the Low Countries in widespread operations throughout the day. Road, rail and military transport taregts were the focal points of the swift concentrated attacks with flak providing the only opposition. Last night’s targets were the railway centres of Boulogne, Orleans, Le Mans and Tours. The targets were clearly identified and the bombing was well concentrated. Military objectives on the coast of France were also bombed. Mosquitoes attacked Cologne and mines were laid in enemy waters. iSeven of our aircraft are missing. I In one of these attacks an explosion was caused which was so bright that the crews were blinded, and one of our aviators said it was the biggest explosion he had ever seen. In another case the crews were unable to identify the target on account of the heavy cloud, and rather than endanger French lives brought their bombs back. Three German aerodromes in France, Orly and Villa Cou'blay, near Paris, and Champague, near Rheims, were attacked by Liberators and Fortresses this mottling, states the United States communique. The railway yards at ißheims were also attacked. A very strong fighter escort accompanied- the -bombers. Late this morning airfields and other military objectives in northern France -were attacked by R.A.F. aircraft. Marauders and, Havocs of the Ninth Air Force and Mitchells of the Second Tactical Air Force took part in these • attacks. Early this afternoon Ninth Air Force Thunderbolt fighterbombers also attacked- railway targets in northern France. Airfields in Paris Area.

Marauders and Havocs dropped a total of 350 tons of bombs on Nazi airfields. Thick cloud and heavy enemy flak were encountered. Marauders struck at airfields at Evreux-Fauville, 40 miles west of Paris, and Demain-iProuvy, 25 miles south-west of Lille, Havocs attacked the airfield at'Beauvais, Tille, 30 miles north of Paris, while other formations of medium light bombers ranged along the French coast attacking military .objectives, A small number of enemy fighters was encountered. In the face of terrific anti-aircraft fire, Beauflghters of the R.A.F. 'coastal command strike wing last night made a lowlevel attack on enemy warships close to the French Biscay coast. A destroyer was severely damaged and a minesweeper left blazing from stem to stern. Another minesweeper was damaged. Escorted by Spitfires, the Beauhghters sighted the enemy formation of a destroyer, three minesweepers and a motor torpedo-boat shortly before dark, and went straight into the attack. Shore batteries opened up at the aircraft ana the warship’s guns put up an extremely heavy, barrage. One Beautighter is missing. „. During an offensive sweep oft tlie Channel Islands early today, light coastal forces maimed by personnel ot the French Navy torpedoed and sank an enemy trawler, states an Admiralty communique. , , „. ~ , It. is officially stated that the R.A.t. since the outbreak of the war has dropped over 1.264.000.000 leaflets, newspapers and magazines over enemy and enemy-occupied territory. They are being dropped today at an average rate ot a minute. „ According to the German news agency, about 30 British planes last night repeatedly bombed and machinegunned German outpost forces on the Isle d’Equessant, off the north-west coast ot France. It was claimed that three ot the planes were shot down.