AERIAL FOUNDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21602, 3 January 1945, Page 3

AERIAL FOUNDING

REICH TRANSPORT RAILWAYS & BRIDGES TOLL OF NAZI PLANES (British Ollli'inl Wirelc-sa.) ili a.m.> RUGBY, Jan. 2. United Slates heavy bombers, with a lighter escort, were over Germany to-day for the lltli consecutive day. One hundred and sixty-five aircraft were shot down on Monday. The air section of the communique issued by Supreme Allied Headquarters states that on Monday morning between 250 and 300 enemy aircraft, mainly single-engine lighters, strafed oui' aircraft on a number of airfields in Holland and Belgium. A few bombs were also dropped. Fighters and anti-aircraft, guns engaged the enemy and 125 of the attacking force were shot down. In Holland enemy troop quarters north of the River Maas, barges and two bridges were among the targets of our rocket-firing fighters. Escorting heavy bombers, in great strength , attacked railway bridges and marshalling yards in the Coblenz area and an oil refinery at Doelbergen, east ol Hanover, and other targets in north and central Germany. Heavy bombers operating with a fighter cover again breached the Dortmund-Ems Canal. Medium and light bombers attacked targets in the Ardennes salient, including objectives at St. Vith, Laroche and Dasburg, and fighter-bombers struck at railway communications and armoured vehicles south and west of Prum. Other fighter-bombers hit railway yards and focal points in the enemy’s supply and reinforcement route areas at Trier, Karlhaus and south-west of Trier. l<i:t Nazi Aircraft Lost Thirty-five enemy aircraft were shot down in additioif to the 125 destroyed in the attacks on airfields. Thirty bombers and seven fighters have not returned. Several missing bombers and five fighters are believed to have landed on friendly territory. Last night heavy bombers were over Germany, with the marshalling yards 'at Vohwinkel and a benzol plant among the objectives. Eight fighters shot down five enemy aircraft. Eight aircraft ol the Royal Air Force Bomber Command arc missing from operations on Monday and Monday night. Air reconnaissance revealed that the Bomber Command, for the fourth time, has put the Dortmund-Ems Canal out of action, says the Air Ministry News Service. The Germans spent weeks repairing the canal and had just got. it working again when the Lancasters attacked it. They breached the wall for a distance of 180 ft., through which water is now pouring. Over 4000 Sorties Flown The Mustang and Thunderbolt fighters which escorted the Fortresses and Liberators to Germany on January 1 destroyed 17 enemy interceptors. Supreme Allied Headquarters says that the Allied air forces on January 1 made 4240 sorties against a variety of targets in and oehind the battle areas. In clear weather Mosquitoes of the Royal Air Force Second Tactical Air Force made concentrated harassing attacks during Monday night on enemy movements in the areas of /.ulpich, Maven and Clervaux and points along the bomb line to the eastward. Particular attention was paid to troop concentrations in forests and woods. The night's bag totalled over 90 motor vehicles, some of which were set on fire. Strikes were also observed by cannon and machinegun fire on 15 tanks and 50 goods trucks. Five railways were cut and lour direct hits were made on the roads.