BRUGES TO DIEPPE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 5

BRUGES TO DIEPPE

R.A.F. ACTIVITIES

(Rec. 1 p.m.) RUGBY, June 8. An Air Ministry communique states that in the large-scale offensive operations over the Channel and enemyoccupied territory, Bostons, with a strong fighter escort, /attacked the docks and other objectives at Bruges. Four enemy aircraft were destroyed and six R.A.F. fighters are missing, but two of the pilots are safe.

The Air Ministry news service, referring to the raid, says it ranged over a front of 130 miles from Bruges to Dieppe. At Bruges the Bostons bombed docks, a factory, and the railway, while Spitfires swept in from Dieppe to .Dunkirk in a semi-circle 30 to 40 miles in depth. One force of Spitfires operated in the Ambleteuse-St OmerMardyck area, while another swept from Dieppe to Abbeville. They destroyed three Fwl9o's and severely damaged at least a dozen others. Two pilots of the Second American Eagle Squadron accounted for the three which were destroyed.

One Spitfire formation had a dogfight with 30 FwlO9's almost above St. Omer aerodrome, but cloud prevented them seeing what was almost certainly the end of a number of enemy planes. Another Spitfire squadron was pounced on over the Channel by 30 Focke-Wulfs, but fought its way out, damaging one enemy aircraft. Two British pilots who made a forced landing in the Channel were rescued.— 8.0. W.