R.A.F. BOMBERS

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1941, Page 5

R.A.F. BOMBERS

ACTIVE ON CONTINENT Heavy Attacks on Boulogne [AUS. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, Julv 23. Early on Wednesday afternoon, Blenheim bombers escorted by a. strong force of fighters, bombed obr ( jectives near St. Omer, France. British fighter ’planes encountered a number of enemy fighters, and destroyed five. British losses were five bombers an<] five fighters. The pilot of one fighter is safe. On Tuesday night, R.A.F. bombers in Germany, attacked industrial targets in Frankfurt-on-Main, Mannerheim, and elsewhere, and also docks at Dunkirk, Rotterdam and Ostend. Night fighters attacked aerodromes in Northern France. From these operations not one British aircraft is missing. The Admiralty states that a German bomber, believed to be a Heinkel 111, was shot down on Tuesday night, by combined anti-aircraft lira from a British convoy and its escort. The bomber attempted to attack the convoy, but was promptly shot down. The Air Minister .(Sir A. Sinclair) said the scope of the R.A.F. operations is increasing both by day and night. Night bombing on a heavy srale is being steadily and skilfully maintained. Evidence of damage is accumulating, and will be published as soon as available. By day, we are forcing a reluctant enemy to give battle. We are inflicting substantial damage to factories, communications, shipping and the fighter forces. What is still more important, we are compelling him to maintain large air forces in the west, to resist our growing assaults. The Bomber Command drop-., ped in May this year, more than twice the tonnage of bombs dropped in May last year, and in June dropped more than half as much again as was dropped in May. No efforts were being spared to obtain, first, parity, then overwhelming superiority over the German air force.

Heavy Raids On Boulogne

EARLY YESTERDAY.

(Rec. 11.30). RUGBY, July 24Press Agency reports state that there was a continuation of R.A.P. offensive operations during the early hours of Thursday, when explosions were heard in the Boulogne district of France. They shook buildings on the English coast and continued, at Intervals, for nearly two hours, Still later reports indicated that R.A.F. planes were again across the Channel shortly after dawn on Thursday. Meanwhile, British heavy bombers continued a night offensive on , Wednesday night against Germany’s war industries, attacking targets in western districts.

RAIDS ON INVASION PORTS,

BIG STRAIN ON GERMAN A.A. GUNNERS.

LONDON. July 24

A German anti-aircraft gunner gave a broadcast from the “Deutschland Hessender” the anti-Nazi station He told of effects of R.A.F. day and night attacks on invasion ports. He said: “We were l worn out. Them was no respite day or night. The strain was terrific. We did not receive the support from the Luftwaffe which we used to expect. We were continuously on duty.”

Raids on Britain

WIDER WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

LONDON, July 23. Enemy activity over Britain last night was again on a small scale. Bombs dropped on an east coast district caused a few casualties and some damage to houses. A small number of enemy aircraft approached the coast of Britain in daylight and a few were flown inland, but there were no reports of bombs being dro’pped. . It is officially stated that no enemy aircraft crossed the coasts to-day. (Rec. 11.30). RUGBY, July 24. An official communique states: Enemy air activity over Britain last night was more widespread than of late, but it was not on a heavy scale. There were a small, number of casualties, some being fatal, at points in the north-west of England, and in Scotland, but there, was little damage done. One enemy aircraft was destroyed durino- the night