BOMBS ON GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 237, 4 July 1944, Page 5

BOMBS ON GERMANS

Record Weight In June (British Official Wireless.) (Received July 3, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, July 2. Allied bombers were out every night but one last month over Germany and occupied territory and dropped a record weight of bombs —well over 56,000 tons. The greater part was directed at night on strategical targets to assist the invasion armies. Mosquitoes attacked objectives in Germany on 23 nights. Many 4000-pounders were dropped. Berlin was three times raided. June was also the Bomber Command’s best mouth against fighters, of which well over 100 are already known to have been destroyed. Aircraft of the Second Tactical Ai~ Force and the Air Defence of Great Britain dropped nearly 5000 tons on the Normandy front in June. The Second Tactical Air Force made more than 10.000 sorties against land targets. Beach-head patrols have been maintained every day since D-Day and also offensive patrols over a wide area. Aircraft of Coastal Command made nearly 8000 sorties in June —double May’s total and treble that of June last year. Anti-submarine patrols were carried out every day and attacks on shipping on 28 days. More than 600 vessels of all types have been attacked and convoys have been escorted on 11 days. Attacks on Flying Bombs. Enemy action against Britain has been mainly by flying-bombs. The Bomber Command has made heavy attacks on their launching sites on four nights in June and day attacks every day but three since June 22. Excluding operations connected with the campaign in Normandy, R.A.F. losses in June were ISI aircraft in offensive action over Europe. Nineteen enemy aircraft were destroyed. Over Britain, the enemy lost seven aircraft and the R.A.F. nil. R.A.F. aircraft of Bomber Command and tlie A.D.G.B. and Coastal Command flew a total of 27.999 sorties in June. Throughout the period nnd including the pre-invasion month the Bomber Command maintained serviceability at the astounding figure of 109 per cent. Summing up the work in June, the Air Ministry says: “The month has seen a noteworthy ' change in the use of air power. Separate air forces, without losing any of their individuality or capacity for their own particular tasks, have at times been welded into one gigantic air arm. striking powerful blows aid the armies on the western front. The most remarkable instance is the fact that heavy bombers of the R.A.F., specially built for strategic bombing, have been freely and successfllll .v used against tactical targets.