GREAT SWEEPS

Evening Star, Issue 25170, 9 May 1944, Page 5

GREAT SWEEPS

SMASHING ATTACKS ON CONTINENT ! BERLIN AND BRUNSWICK POUNDED (Rec. noon.) LONDON, May b. Mighty Allied air forces in great wide sweeps continued smashing attacks against Germany and occupied countries all day to-day. Nearly 2,000 bombers and fighters from Britain gave Berlin its secona tremendous pounding within 24 hours and heavily attacked Brunswick. Approximately 200 Marauders swept; out in a two-pronged attack against military objectives in Northern Fiance. Over 100 Thunderbolts engaged in a wide sweep over the Continent. Spitfires operated in the Cumbrui area. Thunderbolts continued their attacks against communications in occupied France, dive-bombing the railway bridge at Mezieres and the arterial highway from Mantes to Gassicourt. Marauder crews reported good hits again on the railway bridge near Rouen, which is an important link between inland centres and. the Channel ports. Mosquitoes, Spitfires, x and lyphoon lighter-bombers in the afternoon attacked targets in France, including the railway centre of Bethune and an airfield near Dinard. Allied air fleets crossed the Straits again this evening. Waves of bombers, believed to be Marauders, were seen living towards the French coast Between Boulogne and Dieppe. Squadrons of fighters followed. Paris radio said: "Northern France has been bombed almost without interruption for the past 36 hours. The cathedral at Arras was damaged to-day. The region of Rouen and the locality uorth-west of the Seine-ct-Oise Department was also raided. Over 100 people were killed in a heavy raid on Rennes last night." A total of 119 German aircraft were shot down by American heavy bombers and their fighter escort in to-day's attack on Berlin ana Brunswick. Above a thick layer of cloud stretching across Germany, more than I.oUU American heavy bombers and longrange fighters battled through the German fighter packs to strike Berlin and Brunswick. It was the second day in succession that the Bomber Division had continued what the communique calls the " air invasion of the German capital." In contrast to yesterday, there were many air battles, the fiercest of them in the Brunswick area. American losses were 36 bombers and 13 fighters. The results of/the bombing are not vet known. ' , . .. " There was also considerable activity over France during the day. One bomber was lost.