SHUTTLE ATTACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 150, 26 June 1943, Page 5

SHUTTLE ATTACK

TACTICAL PURPOSE LONDON, June 24. Observers in London believe that the feat of the bombs which raided Friedrichshafen and Spezia may be the open- , ing of a two-way assault on targets in Axis and enemy-occupied countries by planes flying from Britain and North Africa. The "Daily Telegraph," commenting on. the R.A.F.'s shuttle attack, says: "One of the tactical aims was to confuse the enemy. By continuing flying south after the attack on Friedrichshafen the bombers avoided the strong fighter and ground defences of western Europe which would have been on their toes for the returning planes. "The defences of northern tlaly are notoriously weak. The Italian nightfighter strength is negligible. Thus, after the bombing, the Lancasters had more or less an armchair flight to North Africa, with a smaller risk of losses. The Italian defences would not have expected the bombers to come their way after unloading their bombs on Friedrichshafen. "The element of surprise must have been equally effective on the return flight. The German defences 'face' Britain; the radio location detection systems are presumably organised to pick up raiders coming in from the west or north; but the bombers, flying in a general northerly direction from Spezia, came in behind these defences without having to go but from Britain r.nd thus raise the alarm.".