BOMBING RESUMED

Evening Star, Issue 25169, 8 May 1944, Page 3

BOMBING RESUMED

BIG AMMUNITION DUMPS ' EXPLODED

BERLIN ATTACKED AGAIN IN DAYLIGHT (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. R.A.F. bombers last night heavily attacked important railway yards at Mantes. 30 miles north-west' of Pans, says an Air Ministry communique. Other forces attacked ammunition dumps at Aubigne-Racan, 25 miles north-west of Tours and Sable-Sur-Sarthe, 30 miles south-west of Le Mans. The objectives were clearly identified, and the bombing well concentrated. Attacks were also made against Ludwigshavon and objectives in Western Germany. Mines were laid m enemy waters. Five bombers are missing. Strong forces of Allied bombers and fighters this morning attacked Berlin and targets in Western Germany. The Press Association says that probably between 750 and 1,000 heavy bombers were engaged to-day, and close on 1,000 fighters All three air attacks on the targets in France were made while the moon was up x - and in excellent visibility. Though there were some interceptions, 'especially near Aubigne-Racan and Mantes, the main fighter packs did not reach the bombers. Those night fighters which did arrive at Mantes after the attack started were extremely persistent, and pursued the bombers on the way home. As one pilot made his bombing run over the yard he saw a large railway building casting a long shadow. The next moment the shadow had gone. The building had been wiped away.

Lancaster crews who bombed abmunition dumps told a dramatic story of huge explosions. One pilot who was in the Aubigne attack said the aircraft bumped up and down, although flying many thousand feet above the dump. The flames from one explosion shot 2,000 ft into the air. Smoke then rilled up from the 4ump, and a quarter of an hour later had risen to 12,000 ft. Crews who attacked a clump at Sable-Sur-Sarthe said the whole target seemed to come up at them. The whole attack was over in 10 minutes. Green and red ammunition was flying into the air like sparks, and some was sent 4,000 ft into the air. When the raiders left the whole target was in flames. Spitfire and Typhoon fighter-bomlbers of the Second Tactical Air Force to-day attacked military targets in France. R.C.A.F. Spitfires on offensive patrol over France destroyed two enemy aircraft. Marauders of the Ninth Air Force attacked two rail centres in Belgium this morning. They were escorted bv Lightnings of the Ninth Air Force and Spitfires of the Second Tactical Air Force. '

Yesterday evening and again during the night Beaufighters , of'Coastal Command attacked enemy shipping off the Frisian Islands, states an_ Air Ministry communique. A medium-sized merchant vessel was set on fire and left low in the water. Two medium and two small merchant ships were also damaged and set on fire. Also several escort vessels were attacked and damaged. At night a medium-sized merh ant ship was torpedoed off the Norwegian coast. One of our aircraft is missing. .