AIR RAIDS IN FRANCE

Grey River Argus, 31 May 1943, Page 5

AIR RAIDS IN FRANCE

LARGE U.S. FORCE

U-Boat and Air Bases

[British Official Wireless] (Rec. 6.30) RUGBY, May 29. The largest force of heavy bombers yet employed by the United States Eighth Air Force, made a three-pronged attack on targets in France late on Saturday afternoon, stated a joint British-American announcement. Fortresses attacked the U-boat base at St. Nazaire and military targets at Rennes, while Liberators bombed the U-boat base at La Pallice. Visibility was good. Bursts were seen in all three target areas. The Fortresses attacking Rennes and St. Nazaire encountered heavy fighter opposition. They destroyed many of the enemy. They were supported by R.A.F., American, Dominion and Allied fighters. The Liberators were not escorted to La Pallice. There are thirteen bombers missing from all of the operations. These operations were preceded by R.A.F. bombing and fighter bomber attacks, each with a fighter escort upon airfields in north-western France. Spitfires, Typhoons and Typhoon bombers were out in force. Typhoon bombers, escorted by Typhoons, attacked an airfield at Maupertus, on Cherbourg Peninsula, pressing home the attack despite heavy flak. No enemy aircraft was encountered. All the R.A.F. .aircraft returned. Spitfires, which escorted Venturas in an attack on Caen airfield, saw about six enemy fighters taking off, but these did not succeed in attacking the bombers. The flak was inaccurate and all the Allied planes returned.

MANY KILLED IN RENNES

(Rec. Midnight) LONDON, May 30. The Vichy radio says: Allied aircraft bombed Rennes from a high altitude. The raid lasted only a ’ tew minutes, but many casualties and extensive damage were caused in tne residental areas. There have been ninetjv-five dead bodies thusfar recovered.