Waves Of Bombers Crossing Channel

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 3

Waves Of Bombers Crossing Channel

(Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16. A large fleet of bombers and fighters of the R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. took part in a great operation from Britain early tonight. Observers say that waves of machines crossed the coast between Dover and Dungness towards France in a continuous stream for some time.

High flying fighters left many vapour trails which made unbroken lines in the sky from Folkestone to well inland from Boulogne. Two great formations of bombers were observed crossing the coast in the Dungness area. Some fighters after sweeping the skies over Northern France returned in about threequarters of an hour. Four Mosquitoes of the Fighter Command engaged eight Junkers 88s in the Bay of Biscay on the evening of September 25. Two of the enemy were destroyed and several others were damaged, some seriously. One Moskuito was lost.

More Raids

United States Eighth Air Force Marauders escorted and supported by R.A.F., Dominion and Allied Spitfires, attacked Longuenesse airfield at St. Omer this afternoon. All returned safely. Cne thousand were killed and 13,000 injured as a result of three Allied raids on Nantes, says Paris radio. A total of 14.GC0 houses were destroyed. A large number of fires were still burning in Mannheim and Ludwigshafen yestirday afternoon, many hours after Bomber Command’s heavy attack on Thursday night. Smoke still hung over a large part of the city. Fresh damage done That night was severe, especially in the dock, central and Neckar Stadt areas.

It is now known that in the attack on Hanover on Wednesday night, very heavy damage was done by fire to the Wollewascherie works, second largest woolcombers in Germany. The damage done to the Nordwelle wocl-comb.ing factory at Basemen last year had an important effect on the clothing situation of the German armies- in Russia during the winter.