FIGHTER SWEEP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1942, Page 3

FIGHTER SWEEP

OVER NORTHERN FRANCE

TWO ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. ATTEMPTED RAIDS ON BRITAIN FAIL. LONDON, May 24. Fighter planes of the R.A.F. made a sweep over the CalaisBoulogne area this evening. Full details of the operations are not yet announced, but it is known that two enemy fighters were destroyed without loss to the British squadrons.

Two Messerschmitts crossed the Channel towards the south-east coast of England, but both turned back on sighting Spitfires, which got in several bursts. When last seen one enemy machine was flying low, with smoke pouring from it.

This morning a single enemy raider approached the north-east coast but was chased out to sea again after being damaged. There are no reports of any bombs having been dropped in the last 24 hours.

EARLIER ACTIVITIES

WEATHER IMPEDES BRITISH BOMBING. MUCH MINE-LAYING IN ENEMY WATERS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 23. The R.A.F. daylight offensive over northern France, which had been interrupted during the past few days by bad weather was resumed today when there was a sweep by several wings over the Boulogne area. Only one wing met any serious opposition from the enemy. 7 ln the case of the others, the enemy turned away as soon as the Spitfires climbed to meet them.. One enemy fighter was destroyed. Two R.A.F. fighters are missing. The weather over Britain ' and Europe, according to an R.A.F.' authority, has been responsible for the recent pause in Britain’s bombing offensive, making it impossible to bomb distant targets in Germany. However, the bombers have not stood idle. On nights when bombing of Germany has been impossible there has been much mine-laying activity in waters frequented by the enemy. If the results of this work could be made known, the public would realise that the highly skilled work of the crews engaged in these operations is being rewarded by serious damage to enemy shipping. One enemy aircraft was destroyed when a few bombs were dropped on the west and south of England this afternoon. Three persons were slightly injured and-a small amount of damage lone.