NIGHT OFFENSIVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 91, 17 April 1943, Page 5

NIGHT OFFENSIVE

ENEMY TERRITORY R.A.F. Plaster Airfields, Trains And Shipping N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, April 16. In one of the biggest night offensives for many weeks, aircraft of the Fighter Command last night flew deep into enemy territory in search of rail and road targets and German aircraft, says the Air Ministry news service. Mosquitoes were over North-west Germany and Holland, while other Mosquitoes, Bostons and Beaufighters attacked targets in France. Whirlwind bombers were also active over the Channel, destroying an enemy U-boat and damaging two others out to sea between le Touquet and Berck. A Mosquito pilot shot down two German bombers over France. From these widespread raids, which inflicted more heavy damage on the enemy's communications, all our aircraft returned. One Mosquito patrolled Holland for 2ihours with 300 ft of copper cable wrapped around a wing and the fuselage as the result of a crash into some wireless cables.

The Fighter Command began offensive operations at breakfast time to-day, when fighter bombers attacked Tricquevilie airfield, says the Air Ministry News Service. Typhoons immediately afterwards shot down a Messerschmitt 109, damaged shipping in the harbour of Le Havre, and shot up oil storage tanks alongside the docks. Bombs were dropped on many parts of the airfield, where Focke-Wulf 190's were dispersed. The ships at Le Havre were armed minesweepers, the largest being of 800 to 900 tons. Two ships were set on fire and a third damaged. Some fighters went as far as northwest Germany to attack trains. Altogether more than a dozen trains were damaged. To-night's bag for a Mosquito pilot was two planes and one locomotive destroyed and three locomotives damaged. American Flying Fortresses and Liberator bombers are being prepared for night bombing raids on Germany, reports the New York Herald-Tribune's London correspondent. Flame dampers are being fitted to the exhausts. The bombers' gunners are learning to shoot night lighters and the pilots are brushing up night navigational hazards. Previously American bombers have been employed exclusively on daylight precision bombing.