Million and a Half Miles in 48 Hours

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 50, 1 March 1943, Page 5

Million and a Half Miles in 48 Hours

(British Official Wireless.) Received Sunday, 7 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 28.

It was officially announced this afternoon that during the past forty-eight hours, the four Home R.A.F. Commands —fighter, bomber, coastal and army cooperation—flew over 2000 operational sorties amounting to 1,500,000 miles. The operations began with the heavy raid on Nurembourg the night before last, and attacks on West German targets and ininelaying, followed yesterday by the British-American raids on Dunkirk docks, airfields near Cherbourg and a U-boat stores depot at Rennes, while Liberators bombed Wilhelmshaven. Then Cologne received an other very heavy battering last night. BIG BLASTS IN COLOGNE (British Official Wireless.) Received Sunday, 7 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 27. Cologne was the target for a very heavy attack by the Bomber Command last night. The weather was clear apart from a ground haze. Since last Alay when the thousand bomber raid was made, great efforts at' restoration and repair have been reported. The raid last October and two this month have had a good effect in retarding progress and last night’s attack was the heaviest Cologne has had apart from the thousand bomber raid. Anti-aircraft defences were again reported to be very moderate and a few enemy fighters were seen. Two of our bombers are missing. Bombs were also dropped on objectives in Western Germany. Aircraft of the Fighter Command at tacked railway targets in Northern Franco yesterday. American combat crews back from the raid on Brest in daylight, reported seeing bombs burst and fires start in the target area. There was no loss of men or equipment. Spitfires which provided cover, effectually beat off fighter opposition. Only about five enemy aircraft were seen during the raid. Venturas of the Bomber Command attacked the docks at Dunkirk. The weather w r as good and bursts were seen ori the quays aud shipping. R.A.F., United States and Dominion fighters covered tho operation. There was a number Of combats. Two enemy fighters were destroyed and one of ours is missing. Whirlwinds with an escort of fighters bombed the airfields at Maupierts without loss. Three fighters are missing from the United States raid on Brest.