BLACK DAY FOR LUFTWAFFE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 3, 29 September 1943, Page 5

BLACK DAY FOR LUFTWAFFE

58 Fighters Shot Down (Received September 28, 10 p.m.) LONDON, September 27. Today was a black day for the Luftwaffe defending the European fortress, British and American air forces destroying 58 German fighters for the loss of eight bombers and seven fighters. It is officially announced that the strong formations of Flying Fortresses raiding Emden and also Aurich destroyed 18 fighters. Escorting Thunderbolts shot down 22. Marauders attacking airfields in France shot down four fighters, and escorting R.A.F., Dominion and Allied fighters shot down 14 more. Our losses were seven heavy bombers, one medium bomber, and seven fighters.

1000 TONS OF BOMBS ON EMDEN

Heavy Fighter Defence LONDON, September 27. A horde of Flying; Fortresses flung down about 1000 tons of bombs against the German U-boat base at Emden today. They were accompanied for the first time on the entire round trip of 600 miles by Thunderbolt fighters. Many German fighters camo up to attack the bombers, but they were fought off, mostly by the Thunderbolts. However, when the German fighters did break through the Fortresses overwhelmed them. The official figures, when issued, are likely to show heavy German losses. Thunderbolt pilots from one station alone shot down nine planes. The Fortresses, when at the greatest height, flew in 76 degrees of frost. They mounted their bombs in a new manner, allowing a greater diversity of bombs and a greater weight in each plane. Tne load included thousands of small incendiaries. The great force of bombers employed enabled them to carry out area bombing instead of the usual precision bombing. Flying through flak and a swarm of enemy fighters. United States Marauders delivered another blow against the heavily defended fighter 'base at BeauvaisLille, in the sixth raid on the aerodrome this month. Clouds rendered observation of the results difficult, but the crews were certain that the bombing was in the target area. Many fighters attacked the Marauders, and escorting Spitfires had many dogfights.

Fighting Like Mad.

The Luftwaffe, which so often in recent months has allowed Allied aircraft to attack targets in northern France without opposition, is showing a disposition to fight it out, at least over Beauvais. On returning from the raid, (luring which escorting aircraft shot down nine enemy aircraft and damaged many more, a wing commander said that the Hun was fighting like mad. Shortly before the raid R.A.F. Mitchells attacked marshalling yards near Rouen, where no opposition was offered. The bombers had no difficulty in reaching their target, and despite heavy flak were able to drop their bombs in a few minutes. Bursts were seen concentrated in the yards and some fell near a bridge and a locomotive repair shop. Hits were scored by Typhoons in a raid on Abbeville aerodrome. Five of our aircraft are missing. United States Marauders, escorted by Allied fighters, attacked an airfield -lo miles west of Paris this afternoon. A Canadian intruder destroyed an enemy bomber over Holland last night.