DAYLIGHT ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 October 1942, Page 2

DAYLIGHT ATTACKS

ON GERMANY & NORTHERN FRANCE MADE BY STRONG FORCES. BRITISH & AMERICAN PLANES RANGE FAR & WIDE. LONDON, October 9. Allied air power struck far and wide in Germany and Northern France today. British planes raided the upper Rhineland this morning, one by one flying over hundreds of miles of hostile country.

R.A.F. and United States Air Corps bombers made a combined attack on objectives in Northern France. It was the biggest raid to date by American planes. More than 100 Allied bombers took part and made a high-level-at-tack on steel works and other factories at Lille. The bombers were escorted by many Allied fighters. Many bombs were seen to fall on the target and a huge column of flames and smoke rose up. The German Air Force took up the challenge and a large number _of enemy planes tried to get at the Allied bombers. Some of the German fighters were destroyed, but it is not known how many. Four Allied bombers are missing, but the crew of one is safe. All the Allied fighters got back. They destroyed five enemy aircraft. There were two hit and run raids on a town on the south-east coast of England today. Bombs were dropped and streets were machine-gunned. Only slight damage was done. MANY BURSTS ON STEEL & LOCOMOTIVE WORKS. SCORED BY AMERICAN BOMBERS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) RUGBY, October 9. The Air Ministry and the United States Army Headquarters state: “More than 100 United States Army Air Force Flying Fortress Boeing 17s and Liberator Boeing 24s took part today in a high-level daylight attack upon German-held industrial establishments at Lille. Many squadrons of Allied fighters made supporting and-, diversionary sweeps during the operation. The bombers’ main target was the Lille Steel and Locomotive Works. Many bursts, were seen on the target. The crews of the attacking aircraft saw a huge column of flame and smoke arising from the target as they flew away. A large number of enemy aircraft were encountered and the bombers had many successful combats, but the number of enemy fighters destroyed by them is unknown. Four of our bombers are missing, but the crew of one are safe. Our fighters destroyed five enemy aircraft. None of our fighters are missing.” JUNKERS PLANE DESTROYED OVER BAY OF BISCAY BRITISH BOMBER MISSING. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) RUGBY, October 9. An air communique states: “This morning single aircraft of the Bomber Command, one of which is missing, bombed objectives in the Upper Rhineland'. „ . , „ “Yesterday afternoon Coastal Command Beaufighters destroyed a Junkers 88 over the Bay of Biscay.”