R.A.F. BUSY DAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1942, Page 3

R.A.F. BUSY DAY

SEVEN FIGHTER SWEEPS OVER FRANCE

THREE NAZI PLANES SHOT DOWN COASTAL COMMAND ATTACKS ENEMY SHIPPING’. TWO VESSELS SET ON FIRE OFF NORWAY. LONDON, May 3. With improving weather the R.A.F., after one clay’s interruption, has resumed its intensive raids over Northern France. Today seven offensive sweeps were made, hi the first of these Spitfires shot down three Focke Wulfs over the Calais area. This afternoon more formations of R.A.F. machines were reported to have crossed the south-east, coast in the direction of Northern France. Britain had its second successive raid-free night. Aircraft’ of the Coastal Command concentrated against enemy shipping. A large tanker was left on fire off the coast of Norway. A medium-sized merchant ship was also attacked and set on fire. Aircraft of the Bomber Command laid mines in enemy waters. Two British bombers are missing. GREATEST OF ALL TIME BRITISH AIR OFFENSIVE IN APRIL. LONDON, May 3. The Air Ministry describes last month’s operations by the R.A.F. as the greatest air offensive of all time. Thousands of tons of bombs were dropped, many of great size. There was a wider range of targets than ever before. The most crushing attack was on the Baltic port of Rostock, which was pounded on four nights running. The German naval base at Trondheim, in Norway, had two attacks on successive nights. In the Paris district, two factories working for the Germans, are producing aero engines and the other lorries, were both heavily pounded. More destruction was caused in Germany’s industrial centre in the Ruhr and docks and naval bases were also attacked.