NEW TARGET FOR R.A.F.

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24116, 27 November 1943, Page 5

NEW TARGET FOR R.A.F.

FRANKFURTONMAIN RAIDED MOSQUITOES ATTACK BERLIN (N.z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 26. The Royal Air Force Bomber Command last night switched the weight of its attack from Berlin to Frankfurt-on-Main. The weather prevented ira J mediate observation of the results. Mosquitoes were over Berlin again, and mines were laid in enemy waters. Thirteen aircraft were lost. On Thursday American fighters, carrying bombs for the first time in the European theatre, attacked two airfields near St. Omer in daylight. Thunderbolts and Lightnings carried out offensive operations in the Calais area. Thunderbolts destroyed two enemy machines. Two American fighters are missing. Considerable damage was done to the submarine base at Toulon in Thursday’s raid by Flying Fortresses, and. hits were scored on repair shops and submarine pens, as well as on the harbour, where ships were anchored. Oil fires were started at the repair shops and other fires, surmounted by clouds of thick, black smoke, were seen. Three heavy,explosions in the arsenal area were reported. One of the ships hit in the harbour is believed to have been a naval unit. An explosion was seen on another vessel. Three submarines and a merchantman in dry dock were probably hit. . The raid was apparently a surprise, and'only a few fighters were sent up, none of which gave battle. According to the Vichy radio, the casualties in the- Toulon raid number 160 killed and 300 injured, with a great number of dead not yet recovered from the debris. Cloud prevented Liberator crews from observing the results of the raid on the railway yards at Sofia on Thursday. There was a sharp encounter between 12 enemy fighters and Liberators and Lightnings, in which three enemy aeroplanes were destroyed.

MODERN AIRCRAFT ENGINES

AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION PLANNED SYDNEY, November 26. The decision to produce a highpower modern liquid-cooled aircraft engine in Australia has been announced by the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin). Mr .Curtin said that this represented a further advance in making the Royal Australian Air Force independent of overseas supply. The production of Pratt-Whitney Wasp radial engines would be continued. Mr Curtin recently announced that Australia would undertake the construction of heavy bombers. TROOPS FROM EAST AFRICA TRANSFER TO ASIA FRONT NAIROBI, November 25. General Sir William Platt, General Officer Commanding, East Africa Command, revealed that vast numbers of black and white troops have already left for the Far East front. Many of them are already in Ceylon.