AIR OPERATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 25089, 2 February 1944, Page 5

AIR OPERATIONS

WIDE RAMGE_OF ACTIVITY (Rec. 11 a.m.V RUGBY, Feb. 1. The Fortresses, escorted (by Thunderbolts, which attacked the airfields at TJdme. 40 miles north-west of Trieste, went in in two waves, scoring hits on buildings, the landing ground, and parked aircraft. Fortress gunners shot down 10 fighters, while the Thunderbolts accounted for another five. Other Fortresses went to Glagenfurt, in Austria, 66 miles north-east of Udine. Hits were scored on the majority of the aerodrome buildings and many fires were left burning. They were escorted by Lightnings, but no opposition was encountered. Liberators pounded Aviano, 45 miles north-north-east of Venice, and destroyed hangars at the aerodrome. Many bombs fell among the airfield buildings, barracks, and grounded aircraft. An enemy fighter was shot down.

Bad weather over the targets led to the cancellation of medium bomber missions, but there was some activity by lighter aircraft. Thunderbolts at San Benedetto, on the east coast between Pescara and Ancona, scored hits on the tracks and set fire to a large warehouse. Bridges, road junctions f and lines of communications in the vicinity of the bridgehead were pounded by Invaders and Warhawks.