HEAVILY ATTACKED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 230, 26 June 1944, Page 5

HEAVILY ATTACKED

Enemy Communications

In France FLYING-BOMB BASES HIT AGAIN (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received June 25, 9 p.m.) LONDON, June 24. Witli Cherbourg doomed, the Allied air forces intensively again attacked German communications in many parts of France on a scale approaching pre-invasion intensity, states a report from Allied headquarters. Operating in weather described as a lighter-pilot’s paradise Allied fighters and fighter-bombers roared down on their targets through fleeting gaps, in clouds, and were away before opposition developed. In addition to ripping up railways and smashing marshalling yards and bridges along an arc extending for 300 miles in the rear of the battle zone, the air forces hit 4550 goods wagons, some of which were loaded with armoured vehicles. Trains comprising 150 wagons, evidently containing ammunition, were blown up at Quince, scattering debris for miles. ■

German reinforcements moving up to the battle areas from Paris and other parts of France are being badly slashed, some German forces reaching the battle zone with their strength greatly depleted. During a dogfight over the Caen area yesterday. New Zealand. Australian and Canadian pilots shot down 10 enemy planes. One New. Zealander hit an ammunition store. Ninth Air Force Marauders and Havocs last evening carried out six attacks on railway centres and fuel dumps, and also an important bridge across the Seine at Maisons Laffitte, 10 miles north-east ot Paris. No enemy fighters were encountered, but flak was heavy over some targets. Two Marauders are missing. Two Eighth Air Force Mustang squadrons last evening found an unprotected enemy aerodrome on which more than 30 Messerschmitts were parked. They dived on it and strafed the planes, of which at least 25 were destroyed and others damaged. An Air Ministry communique says: “Lancasters and Halifaxes, with fighter cover, attacked military installations at Pas de Calais. All the attacks were made in clear wqather. Reports indicate that the bombing was well. concentrated. One of our planes is missing.” An American communique says: * Fortresses and Liberators, escorted by .Thunderbolts and Mustangs, last evening in clear weather attacked nine installations for launching flying-bombs from Pas de Calais and also railway switching stations in the vicinity of Boulogne. This was the tenth attack carried out by the Eighth Air Force against launching ramps this week.”

Clash With Luftwaffe,

The Luftwaffe came up in force at three points in France yesterday to challenge fighter-bombers operating against railway communications, says the Air Ministry news service. Nineteen enemy planes were shot down and many damaged, for the loss of five of ours. Polish Spitfires and Mustangs were challenged by 30 Messerschmitts, six of which were destroyed for the loss of one of ours. Three squadrons of R.A.F. Mustangs were opposed by a formation of 40 Messerschmitts in the Dreux area, nine being destroyed and many damaged for the loss of four Mustangs. Berlin radio .said: “The enemy is not using hundreds of planes over the battle area in France, but thousands of them, constituting the greatest air armada ever used on a battlefield. The fierceness of the air combats is already telling on German pilots.” An Allied communique says: Rocketfiring planes and fighter-bombers damaged three 1000-ton motor-vessels near St. Malo and left one on fire. Our air forces continued their programme of obstructing the flow of enemy supplies and reinforcements to the battle area. Key points in a semi-circle west and south of Paris were under attack during the day by both heavy and fighter bombers. “An armed reconnaissance in some force was flown over a bro'ad belt extending from Falaise-Argentan-St. Germain in the north to Angers-Saumus in the south. To oppose military movements in this area, patrol planes in the AvranchesCoutahces area attacked targets of opportunity. Fighter-bombers attacked gun emplacements north of La Haye Depuits. Heavy day bombers bombed railway bridges at Saumur and Tours and airfields at Chateaudun and Orleansbrich. Reconnaissance shows that bombing attacks on Friday night against Limoges and Saintes were highly successful.” Fortresses and Liberators this afternoon attacked military objectives in north-west Germany, bombing through heavy cloud. Lightnings. Thunderbolts and Mustangs escorted them.