GREAT AIR ASSAULT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1942, Page 3

GREAT AIR ASSAULT

- ♦ CONTINUED BV BRITISH AIRCRAFT NORTHERN FRANCE SWEPT BY POWERFUL FORCE. FACTORIES & PORTS BATTERED. LONDON, April 17. Before the early morning mists had cleared away, Britain's mighty force of Spitfires and Hurricanes commenced a great sweep over Northern France. The number of Spitfires taking part was even greater than that employed yesterday, which was given at over 400.

One section of fighters escorted Boston bombers which attacked a target between Calais and another place and also the docks at Cherbourg. Another great force with bombers attacked a shell-filling factory half way between Calais and Dunkirk. Large holes were seen in the roof of the factory after the attack. The Hurricanes swooped down from 9,000 to 2,000 feet to make the attack. German, fighters showed a marked reluctance to fight. A considerable number of enemy fighters were about, but they appeared to be content to remain out of range. Only three made any attempt to attack. Two enemy fighters were shot down and two of ours and one bomber are missing. Early this morning an American Eagle Squadron pilot, on shipping patrol, shot down an enemy bomber into the sea.

The U-'boat base at Lorient, on the French coast, was attacked by our bombers last night and further along the coast another raid was made on the docks at Le Havre. At the same time our fighters shot up enemy aerodromes .in Holland and Northern France. It is estimated that Britain’s constant air assault in the west has compelled Germany to employ 1,500.000 soldiers and civilians in defence against R.A.F. attacks. The sweeps by our fighters are keeping half of Germany’s fighter strength from the Russian front, ROUSING WELCOME GIVEN LAVAL BY R.A.F. POWERFUL NON-STOP RAIDS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, April 17. For the sixth successive day British fighters and bombers have been making attacks on occupied territory. Reports have been received that a big force of R.A.F. machines was seen flying across the Channel this morning. Improved flying weather has made it possible for the R.A.F. to attack the Germans throughout the whole of the last 24 hours.. It is authoritatively stated that more than 400 Spitfires took part in offensive operations over Northern France yesterday and the number of machines engaged in today’s sweeps was greater still. Today’s targets included a factory at Marquise, in the Calais-Boulogne area, which was bombed by Hurricanes. One comment in London is that Laval’s entry into the Vichy Government is receiving a truly rousing welcome. GERMAN BOMBER DESTROYED BY FIGHTER PATROL. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, April 17. A German bomber was destroyed by a British fighter patrol off the east coast early today.