HAVOC IN FRANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21148, 16 July 1943, Page 3

HAVOC IN FRANCE

u.s. day" bombing

FACTORIES & ’DROMES MANY PLANES DESTROYED (By Telegraph --i J t'rss A.nsn. -Copyriijlit.) < licitish Otlic iiil Wireless.) (11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 13. Heavy damage was in dieted on three important German bases in France when formations ol' Flying Fortresses struck at Villacoublay, Le Bourget and Amiens on Wednesday, according to a statement from United States Army headquarters in London. A study of reconnaissance photographs taken after the smoke of the bombing had cleared away shows widespread destruction among hangars, shops, planes on the ground and runways. For instance, at Villacoublay, eight miles south of the centre of Paris, the large aircraft works and airfield received a concentration of over 400 bursts. Two large hangars were demolished and three others and two aircraft repair shops partly destroyed. In the attack on targets near Amiens it is believed that many planes were destroyed in the hangars, while this area, which was completely blanketed by bombs, apparently served the Nazis as a bomb storage centre, tor there were tremendous explosions following the attack. The United States Eighth Air Force headquarters announced that Briga-dier-General Frederick Anderson has been appointed commanding general of the Eighth Bomber Command. The Paris radio says that in ah raids in the Paris area yesterda;, morning 40 persons were killed and tot) injured.