THIRD DAY'S WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1944, Page 5

THIRD DAY'S WORK

ARMADA OVER EUROPE

(By Telegraph—l'ress Association—Cowrifilit.) Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, May 30. The Allied air offensive against Ger-man-occupied countries reached a new high level today. Over 2000 bombers and fighters, for the third day in succession, roared out from Britain to attack targets in Germany, Belgium, and France, while between 250 arid 500 Liberators flew from Italy to bomb targets in Austria, including Wiener Neustadt, and Fortresses bombed railway yards in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. The activity across the Straits ol Dover went on all day. Very strong forces of Fortresses and Liberators attacked aircraft factories at Dessau, Oschersleben, and Halberstadt, railway yards at Brussels, Rheims, and Troyes, enemy aerodromes at Handorf, near Munster, Diepholz, and Halberstadt, and in the Hamburg area Over 1200 fighters provided the escort. The bombers made a round trip of over 1000 miles. More than 200 Marauders and Havocs escorted by Thunderbolts attacked an airfield and three bridges across the Seine River in northern France in the morning. Rocket projectile Typhoons, also Spitfire and Typhoon fighter-bombers attacked military targets in northern France, including railway sheds, sidings and radio installations. EARLY-EVENING ATTACK. An unstated number of Mitchells and Bostons also attacked other military objectives in northern France this morning. Big Allied air fleets crossed the Straits again early this evening. Waves of planes went out over Folkestone towards the Boulogne area. Never in so short a space of time have so many sorties been flown against German targets, states the British United Press air correspondent. He added that on the basis of official announcements at least 3100 bombers and fighters, in the 12 hours to noon today, had dropped over 3000 tons of bombs on at least 10 railway targets, four airfields, three factories, and also on radio stations and rolling stock. The "Daily Express" says that during the past 80 hours over 14,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on Germany and the occupied countries, which is twice the total that the Germans dropped on London in three months during 1940-41. About 100 German fighters climbed up to defend the vital factories at Dessau, Oschersleben, and Halberstadt against the attacks by a big force of Fortresses and Liberators this morning, but the strong escorting force completely disorganised them. I FORWARD AERODROMES. j Handore and Diepholz aerodromes, which were also attacked, arc among the Luftwaffe's most forward airfields on the home front, and are also important depots for the repair and replacement of front-line fighters. A communique from United States headquarters dealing with these attacks says that the American bombers reported the destruction of eight enemy planes. The fighters reported that 58 more enemy planes were shot down. Eleven American bombers and nine fighters are missing. The Press Association's aviation correspondent comments that these enemy losses bring the total of German planes destroyed over Europe in combat since Saturday to 384, of which 79 were shot down by Allied forces based on Italy. Another important target today was the Brussels railway yards, through which pass most of the arms and ammunition from the factories in the Ruhr area en ro.ute to the West Wall defences in Belgium and France. Lightnings and Thunderbolt fighter-bombers late today attacked bridges and other German military installations near Paris and targets in Antwerp. THREE ALERTS IN PARIS. Vichy radio stated that Paris had three alerts today when Allied planes bombed several localities in the Seine-et-Oise Department. Rouen was thrice raided today, and there were many casualties. R.A.F. Mosquito bombers attacked Hanover and objectives in western Germany and on the coast of. France last night, says an Air Ministry communique. Enemy waters were also mined. No bombers are missing. An Allied Headquarters communique says that medium bombers yesterday maintained their assault against the communications leading to the battle area, bombing railway bridges, yards, and tracks between Florence and Rome. Light bombers and fighter-bombers attacked bivouacs, dumps, tanks, guns, roads, and transport in the battle zone, also railway communications in central Italy and on the east coast. Heavy bombers, in very great strength and under escort, bombed targets in the Vienna area and m Yugoslavia. Heavy bombers attacked Wollersdorf airfield and also an aircraft factory and airfield at Wiener Neustadt, and an aircraft lactory and railway yards at Atzgersdorf. Other formations bombed troop concentrations in central Yugoslavia. GERMAN LOSSES. Sixty-eight enemy planes were destroyed in all operations. Twenty of our bombers and 14 other planes are m Under 30 enemy planes were seen or engaged in daylight over the battle areas. We flew approximately 3000 Medium bombers last night attacked objectives in Fruersbrunn. It is now known that 23 additional enemy planes were destroyed during the heavy bomber operations on May 25 The Mediterranean Coastal Air Force has been using rocket projectiles since last March. Hurricanes yesterday carried out several rocket Three large formations of Allied planes went out over the Straits of Dover this morning to continue pounding German targets. Reuters reports that the German air raid warning service announced violent air battles over the north-western and south-eastern areas in Germany, indicating another Allied two-way attack from England and Italy.