RAIDS IN FRANCE

Grey River Argus, 23 December 1943, Page 5

RAIDS IN FRANCE

By Hundreds of Allied Planes [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 11.30.) LONDON, Dec. 23. Hundreds of American and R.A.F. medium bombers struck at military targets in the Pas De Calais area, in France on Tuesday. Excellent bombing results have been reported. Suoporting fighters shot down eight enemy planes. All the bombers returned. Seven fighters are missing. A great air battle was fought as enemy fighters unsuccessfully strove to break through the fighter screen to attack the bombers. The battle raged from Cambrai to the French coast. Bomber pilots said the work of British Dominion and American fighters was perfect. The targets attacked bv the Allied air forces are not specified, but clearly were of great importance, because the Germans sent up one of the largest fighter formations seen for -weeks. A “Daily Express” aviation writer says: Possibly the targets included German rocket-gun bases, which, neutral reports say have been erected in the Pas De Calais area.

(Rec. 11.30.) LONDON, Dec. 22. The Press Association’s aviation writer says:— ' Air Chief Marshal Harris mav have delivered a death blow against Frankfurt. Air Vice-Marshal Sundby, Deputy Chief of the Bomber Command, recently said there were six great German industrial centres so badly knocked about that one more great raid would nut them nut of th" war. Frankfurt is one of Germany’s important arms and chemical centres. It may have been one of these six. NORWEGIANS DOWN GERMAN PLANES. [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 11.0.) LONDON. Dec. 22. The Norwegian Air Force, in a communique, reports, that Norwegian fighters on Monday shot down three Fockewulf 190’s over enemy territory. RAID ON SOFIA. LONDON, Dec. 21. Raids by heavy* bombers yesterday on the railway yards at Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, and on the Eleusis airfield in Greece, have been announced in a communique from North Africa. . Long-range fighters escorted the bombers, and they! nau combats ail the way to the targets at Sofia. The enemy lost 28 fighters. and 11 Allied aircraft are missing.