DAYLIGHT ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1941, Page 5

DAYLIGHT ATTACK

ON ENEMY AERODROME NEAR LILLE

SEVENTEEN NAZI AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. NINE BRITISH PLANES MISSING. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, July 2. Seventeen enemy aircraft were destroyed today in a daylight attack by the R.A.F. on an aerodrome near Lille, in Northern France. Fifteen were destroyers by fighters and two by bombers. Heavy opposition from ground defences was encountered, but hits were scored on the runways, buildings and dispersed aircraft on the ground. A railway junction near Lille was also bombed. Two British bombers and seven fighters are missing. There are no reports of bombs having been dropped in any part of Britain today. BLENHEIMS & ESCORT THE BATTLE AT NERVILLE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) 1 RUGBY, July 2. 1 It is officially stated that this afternoon Blenheims of the Bomber Command, with a strong fighter escort, attacked an aerodrome at Nerville, near Lille. Bombs burst on runways, on buildings and among dispersed aircraft. The railway junction, south-east of Lille also was bombed. The attacks were pressed home in the face of heavy opposition from ground defences and a large number of enemy fighters tried to interfere with the operations. They were beaten off with heavy losses. Reports so far received show that 17 enemy aircraft were destroyed, of which two were shot down by our bombers. Three of the enemy fighters destroyed, were shot down by an Eagle squadron. Two of our bombers and seven of our fighters are reported missing. NIGHT ACTION NAVAL BASE AT BREST BOMBED AGAIN. GERMAN BATTLE-CRUISERS STILL THERE. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, July 2. An Air Ministry communique states: “Last night aircraft of the Bomber Command visited the naval base at Brest, where the three enemy warships (Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prince Eugen) are still lying. Bombs were seen to straddle the dry dock in which one of the battleships is berthed. The docks at Cherbourg were also bombed. Two of our aircraft are missing from these operations. “Aircraft of the Bomber Command last night bofnbed an aerodrome in France, without loss. On the night of June 30, one enemy fighter was shot down by a British bomber. It is now confirmed that in engagements between our bombers and enemy fighters, off the Frisian Islands at daylight yesterday, two more enemy fighters were shot down, making a total of three destroyed.”