DAYLIGHT RAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 February 1943, Page 3

DAYLIGHT RAID

MADE BY BIG AMERICAN BOMBERS ON U-BOAT BASE AT ST. NAZAIRE MANY EXPLOSIONS IN TARGET AREA. <* BATTLE WITH AXIS FIGHTERS. j LONDON, February 16. American Flying Fortress and Liberator bombers based in Britain struck another heavy blow in the mounting offensive against German Üboat bases today, when they attacked St Nazaire, on the French Atlantic coast. The raid was made in daylight. The big bombers had clear weather in which to aim their bombs and the pilots report seeing many bursts in the vital areas in which submarines are repaired and refuelled. As the last bombers turned for home fires were blazing in the target area, but the crews did not have much time to observe the results, as swarms of enemy fighters came up belatedly. Running fights continued for a considerable distance over French territory and beyond, until the bombers were well over the Channel on their way home. St. Nazaire is beyond the range of Allied fighters, but the latter carried out supporting sweeps as far as their range allowed. Six bombers are missing. St. Nazaire is about 70 miles further along the French Atlantic coast than the U-boat base at Lorient. R.A.F. OPERATIONS. R.A.F. bombers were out last night over Belgium and Western Germany. Fighter Command aircraft again attacked railways in Northern France. The Air Ministry reports that on Monday afternoon Mosquitoes of the Bomber Command, without loss, again attacked the railway workshops and engine sheds at Tours (France). One fighter is missing from bffensive patrol over northern France on Monday morning.