THE FIGHTER COMMAND

Evening Star, Issue 24482, 17 April 1943, Page 5

THE FIGHTER COMMAND

OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS (British Official Wireless.) (Rev. 10.20 a.m.) i . ~ ,- RUGBY, April 16. The Fighter Command began offensive operations at breakfast time today* when fighter-bombers attacked Tricqueville airfield, says the Air Ministry news service. Typhoons immediately afterwards shot down a Me. 109, damaged shiping in the harbour of Le Havre, and shot up oil storage tanks alongside the docks. Bombs were dropped on many parts of the airfield, where P.W. 190's were dispersed. The ships at Le Havre were armed mine sweepers, the largest from 800 to 900 tons. Two ships were set on fire and a third damaged. A further message states: In one of the biggest night offensives for many weeks aircraft of the Fighter Command flew deep into enemy territory in search or rail and road targets and German aircraft, says the Air Ministry news service. Mosquitoes were over north-west Germany and Holland* while other Mosquitoes, Bostons, and Beaufightere attacked targets in France. Whirlbpmbers were also active over the Channel, destroying one enemy E-boat' and damaging two others out at sea between Le Touquet and Berck. A Mosquito pilot shot down two German bombers over France. From these widespread operations, which inflicted more heavy damage on the enemy's communications, all our aircraft returned. One Mosquito patrolled Holland for two and a-half hours with 300 ft of copper cable wrapped around a wing and fuselage, the Tesult of a crash into 6ome wireless cables.