NAZI PILOTLESS BOMBERS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 227, 22 June 1944, Page 5

NAZI PILOTLESS BOMBERS

Heartening Signs

GRADUALLY BEING OVERCOME Record Counter-Blitz (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Received June 21, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 20.

There is heartening evidence that the new defensive and offensive measures are gradually overcoming the menace of the pilotless planes which the Germans are using in attacks against southent England, states the aviation writer of “The Times.” The R.A.F. and United States fighter pilots have achieved increasing success, as have the variety of guns and other defences. The “Daily Telegraph” says that fewer pilotless planes reached southern England today than on previous days. Allied bombers today carried out a vast hour-by-hour plastering of runways in the Pas de Calais area of northern France from which the planes are launched, which was among the reasons for this, the writer believes. He adds that another factor would be the north-easterly gale in the Channel, which sometimes reached a force of 60 miles an hour. The blitz against the skilfully camouflaged launching platforms of the pilotless planes in the Pas de Calais area was the feature of today’s air operations up to midday. These platforms were among the targets attacked by over 1500 Fortresses and Liberators. Over 200 Marauders and Havocs also attacked launching slides between Abbeville and Calais. Violent explosions indicated that explosives stored on the ground had been hit. The British United Press says that the Fortresses and Liberators sent out today made up the largest force ever dispatched on a single mission. The total air fleet, with fighters, was probably over 3000. The bombers visually bombed.their targets, despite heavy and persistent flak, which indicated the importance Germans attached to the emplacements. Careful Bombing. While it was still light last evening, R.A.F. Lancasters opened' the present phase of our attack against the. pilotless plane bases in the Pas de Calais, states the British United Press aviation correspondent. They flew in formation with escorting Spitfires, and were over the target area for 45 m mutes. They waited 20 minutes for thick cloud to clear away in order to bomb visually. The Lancasters went in one after another, and then resumed formation for the flight home. They did not encounter enemy fighters or flak. One experienced pilot said: I think this is the first time heavy bombers have stayed over a target for 45 minutes in daylight. Some of the crews did as many as four runs to ensure their aim,” An almost unceasing relay of American Fortresses and Liberators of the Ninth Air Force, Marauders and Havocs, and Second Tactical Air Force Mitchells, Bostons, Mustangs, and Typhoons, streamed out today, following up the Lancasters’ attack. The navigator of one Mitchell said: “We saw our bombs fall right across the target, which was in. a wood. Flame and oily smoke, mixed with masonry, rose up high above the trees. Allied air activity across the Channel continued hour after hour later in the afternoon and evening. While medium fighter-bombers were hammering at their bases, Allied fighters, including the new Tempests, were attacking and shooting down pilotless planes from the time they were launched in France.

Fewer pilotless planes were sent across the Channel between dusk last night and dawn today than on any night since the Germans started using them, says the “Evening News.” Reports of daylight activity yesterday also show that the pilotless planes were in action ou a somewhat smaller scale than on Sunday, lhe paper adds that while counter measures with fighters and anti-aircraft guns are proving fairly effective, it is far too early yet to assume that these are the causes of the reduced enemy’activity. Fighters in England are taking a heavy toll of the pilotless planes, says the Press Association.. In one district they shot down some into the sea. Six others tell into a rural district, causing a little blast damage and only one casualty, lhe fighters dive on their prey, shooting at them from astern. A short burst seems to be sufficient to send them down, lhe fighters climb almost vertically after firing, to gain height before the robot explodes. . . . Though enemy activity was reported over parts of eastern Scotland last night, incidents involving pilotless planes were confined to southern England.