LOSSES VERY LIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 69, 19 September 1944, Page 5

LOSSES VERY LIGHT

AIR FORCES' FINE WORK

Rec. 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Sept. 18. "Given' sufficient fighter cover and air support, we can jump the Siegfried Line, the Rhine, or any other barrier." This claim was made hy a senior officer of the First Allied Airborne Army.

'The officer said that over 3000 aircraft of all types took part in yesteriay's operations—the greatest airborne landing on record. The Allied losses were very light. The operation brought together practically every force operating in this theatre in the performance of one magnificent task.

' i The country in which the landings were made is poor ..tank terrain and

is intersected by many canals, and an* advance over it to. make the crossing of the Rhine would be a long and tedious process for ground forces alone. To overcome the flak menace there was a great fleet of fighters and bombers to support the landing force. Each supporting air force had its own task. The R.A.F. was responsible for the' preliminary softening of the enemy. The Eighth and Ninth United States Air Forces and Air Defence of Great Britain gave air cover. The landing force was protected from above, from below, and from both sides. The R.A.F.'s good work of the previous day in crippling the enemy's airfields made top cover hardly necessary, for the enemy was unable to put up any fighters. As soon as flak" came up our covering fighters swooped down on the enemy guns and shot them up. The Eighth United States Air Force also helped to prepare the way for the invading force on the morning of the landings.

After the landings had been made the second R.A.F. Tactical Air Force took over the task of protection. The Navy was called in for sea rescue work and also helped by laying down beacons for guidance. Finally, the Coastal. Command made a contribution by diversionary sorties to confuse the enemy. Reconnaissance aircraft did a remarkable job in photographing the enemy's dispositions and defences. Twenty-four tons of maps were used, and each paratrooper landed with a map in his pocket.—B.O.W.