84 SHOT DOWN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 117, 12 February 1944, Page 7

84 SHOT DOWN

Fighters Defending Brunswick U.S. DAYLIGHT RAID (British Official Wireless.) (Received February 11, 9 p.m.) RUGBY, February 10. Formations of heavy bombers of the United States Strategic Air Forces iu Europe today bombed targets iu the important aircraft manufacturing city of Brunswick, in central Germany, and the fighter base of Gilze-Rijeu, in Holland. Flying Fortresses attacked the Brunswick objectives and Liberatorswent to Gilze-Rijen. In all Allied air operations over the Reich and northern France today 90 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Of B4 were destroyed by the Fortresses and their escort in the raid on Brunswick, an'd six by Typhoon fighters near Paris. Our losses in all operations were 37 aircraft.. The Typhoon fighters were screening Typhoon fighter-bombers which were attacking targets in the Paris area. Their attack was only part of the sustained offensive against enemy installations in France and the Low Countries. Last night, Mosquitoes of Bomber Command attacked objectives in western Germany, states the Air Ministry. Ono of our aircraft is missing. American Marauders this morning escorted and covered by Allied planes attacked military objectives in northern France.

Brunswick was heavily attacked three times last month by Allied heavy bombers, and the Gilze-Ripen also had three assaults. Fierce Defence Met.

Today’s attack on Brunswick drew German fighter squadrons up in'strength. It is estimated that between 200 and 300 were used, and whole squadrons flew simultaneously to the assault. Returning American crews say that the Fortresses and their escort of Thunderbolts and Lightnings fought battles with hundreds of enemy fighters—some of the heaviest fighter opposition ever encountered over Germany. They had to fight all the way from the enemy coast to the target and back again to the English Channel.

Fast, single-engined planes attacked the Thunderbolts and Lightnings, while slower twin-engined fighters went for the Fortresses. Some of the enemy attacked in line 15 abreast. Others dived in line astern, in what one of the Fortress pilots called a “devil’s merry-go-round.” Battles were fought out five miles up, in temperatures 40 degrees below zero. Sometimes whole squadrons of German fighters roared in. Attackers and attacked sometimes exploded and went down together, and out of the inferno the Fortieses emerged, flew on to Brunswick, and hit it hard. Enemy fighter opposition to other Allied blows today in northern France was negligible. American medium Marauders carried out these attacks under an’ umbrella of R.A.F., Canadian and Allied Spitfires. They encountered heavy ainti-aireraft fire, and one Marauder is missing. • . Today’s instalment of the Allied air offensive in the west was carried out over a wintry English Channel. Snow began to fall in the Straits of Dover before noon.

EVERY AVAILABLE FIGHTER

Thrown Against Raiders LONDON, February 10. Obviously under orders to do or die, the Luftwaffe gave the American Flying Fortresses raiding Brunswick today their greatest air battle over north-west Germany, says the British United Press correspondent at an American bomber base. The Luftwaffe put every available fighter into the air against the comparatively small force of bombers and escorts. There were never fewer than 75 and sometimes 200 planes attacking the Allied planes. Fast single-seater fighters attacked the Allied Thunderbolts, while slower rocket planes attacked the bombers. Twenty-five Thunderbolts at one point engaged 35 Messerschmitt lilO’s. The fiomfiers flew on, leaving the lighters involved in a melee five miles above the ground. One pilot said: “It was like something out of the’movies, only worse. When a Fortress straggled all the fighters leapt on. it till it was battered down. Stragglers were dead ducks. Plenty of fighters fell, too. Parachutes filled the sky, mixed with puffs of flak and orange streaks that once were bombers and fighters.”

HARBOURS IN GREECE Attacks On Shipping By

Allied Aircraft (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 10. Attacks on supply ships and harbours in Greece by Allied bombers and fighterbombers continue unabated, states the R.A.F. Middle East Headquarters. Yesterday a supply vessel in Langeri Bay blew up after an attack. _ Another was left probably sinking at Katakolon, and a third was listing, with the decks awash. Light bombers attacked the port of Calino, and last night Karaklion Bay was the target for heavy bombers. Mirny bursts were sden across gun positions, workshops and warehouses, and near the power station. Three of our aircraft are missing.

APOLOGY BY BRITAIN Bombing Of Swedish Red Cross Ship ,(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 10. The British Minister in Stockholm has been instructed to express sincere apologies in connexion with the bombing of a Swedish Red Cross ship at Chios, in the Aegean, by British aircraft. The ship was chartered to carry gram for the Greeks. Apparently there was a change in sailing time and the ship left about four days early. She was clearlv marked with the red cross and the Swedish colours, but no further details can be given pending further investigation.