AIR OFFENSIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 7 December 1944, Page 5

AIR OFFENSIVE

ALLIED SHIPS and”railways V-TWO SITES~AND STORES (9 a.m.) LONDON. Dee. 0. Flying through some of the heaviest flak yet encountered, squadrons of R.A.F. Coastal Command Mosquitoes and Beaufighters on Tuesday afternoon attacked from mast-height five enemy merchantmen sheltering in two floras on the Norwegian coast, hitting all five and leaving them burning furiously, says an Air Ministry communique. They also hit and set on fire a tug, and an auxiliary vessel. Two of our aircraft are missing from this operation. A strong force of R.A.F. Halifax and Lancaster heavy-bombers last night attacked the railway marshalling yards at Soest, 15 miles south-east of Hamm A United States Air Corps communique says that approximately 800 Mustangs and Thunderbolts escorted the U.S. bombers to Berlin and Munster yesterday. They shot down 91

German planes in combat, and successfully prevented any massed attack on the bomber formations. Upwards of 100 enemy fighters were encountered in the Berlin area, where anti-aircraft fire was moderate to intense. It was' only moderate over Munster. Twelve U.S. bombers and 22 fighters have not returned, but at least 11 fighters are believed to be safe on friendly territory. Five bombers reported missing from operations on Monday have - since been reported safe. The R.A.F. Fighter Command kept up its attacks on V-two sites in Holland on Tuesday. Difficult weather conditions were encountered, with intense flak, stated the Air Ministry news service. A squadron-leader said he saw his bombs burstin the target area, sending up clouds of smoke and debris. A Polish Spitfire squadron of the Fighter Command attacked another V-Two storage site, power-diving to make their runs over the target. No fighters are missing. The United States Air Headquarters says that about 800 Flying-Fortresses and Liberators, escorted by an equal number of Mustangs and Thunderbolts, on Wednesday attacked the large Leuna synthetic oil plant near Merseburg, marshalling yards at Bieleileld and other targets in Germany. The bombing was done under adverse weather conditions, and results generally were unobserved.