DAYLIGHT ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1943, Page 3

DAYLIGHT ATTACKS

ON TARGETS IN FRANCE & BELGIUM MADE BY AIRCRAFT FROM BRITAIN. MANY DIRECT HITS SCORED. LONDON, June 11. Aircraft from Britain made widespread attacks on targets across the Channel in daylight today. Fighters escorted Venturas, which attacked coke ovens and other objectives at Zeebrugge, in Belgium. Direct hits were scored on the targets, from which clouds of black smoke billowed up. Other fighter squadrons made offensive sweeps over France. A number of Messerschmitts gave battle and in some places antiaircraft gunfire was intense. The British fighters downed three of the enemy machines without loss to themselves. The Germans say a number of Allied planes attacked targets in North-West Germany this morning.

RECENT LULL MAINLY DUE TO WEATHER. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 11. Bad weather over Europe is the main cause of the lull in the Allied air offensive against Germany, which has been held up since May 29, just as the onslaught seemed to be getting into its stride,” says the “Evening Standard’s” aviation writer. People in Britain are wondering why. There are reports that it is worrying the Germans, too. They did not like the raids and now they do not like the lull. They think it points to something bigger. Maybe it docs. The R.A.F. is obviously building up to participate in the amphibious operations promised by Mr Churchill. Losses have little or nothing to do with the pause. Though 252 night bombers were lost during the record attacks last month, the proportion of losses has not increased since 1942, despite the stronger German defences. According to newspapers in Helsinki (Finland), Goering is preparing a giant reprisal raid against Britain. It is also claimed that the Germans have a new long-range gun which is capable of shelling London.