DAYLIGHT ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 November 1943, Page 3

DAYLIGHT ATTACKS

ON TOULON AND SOFIA MADE BY AMERICAN HEAVY BOMBERS. VIADUCT NEAR CANNES ALSO BOMBED. LONDON, November 24. Large formations of Flying Fortresses ’today bombed submarine pens and docks at Toulon, the naval base in southern France, while Liberators attacked the railway yards at Sofia. This is officiyally announced from the Allied headquarters in North Africa.

In the attack on Toulon, which is described by the Germans as the heaviest yet made on Southern Europe, damage was done to submarine pens, repair shops and ships and the arsenal was hit. Oil stores were left ablaze. The attack was concentrated into a period of five minutes. A smaller formation of Fortresses bombed the coastal railway viaduct near Cannes. The Vichy radio stated that 30 buildings were destroyed in the Toulon raid. The number of victims was not yet established but was feared to be high! The raid started at 1.30 p.m. and lasted half an hour. The Budapest radio said that 60 American bombers with strong fighter cover attacked Sofia, flying over the city in two groups. The alert lasted from 12.45 p.m. to 3.3 p.m. A Bulgarian communique stated: “Groups of enemy planes today flew over Bulgarian territory, and bombs were dropped at several places. Several of the raiders were shot down. The Prime Minister, Professor Filov, visited a damaged town immediately after the attack.” In these raids the Allies, lost four aircraft. The enemy lost five.