Luftwaffe Apparently Unable To Stop Raids

Northern Advocate, 23 May 1944, Page 5

Luftwaffe Apparently Unable To Stop Raids

(Rec. 3 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. The Air Ministry stated that Spitfire and Typhoon fighters and fighterbombers resumed the blitz against Continental transport and military targets and again surprised the Luftwaffe.

Canadians shot down at least six enemy planes before dark. Six Spitfire pilots detailed for weather reconnaissance also attacked military targets and damaged four goods trains, one military lorry and four barges. Many other sorties were flown in a deliberate but fruitless search for enemy fighters. Hundreds of United States and R.A.F. bombers and fighters this evening continued the attack against the Continent, streaming out and returning without a pause for three hours. Lightning, Thunderbolt and Mustang fighter-bombers early in the evening re-attacked enemy airfields and railway targets in Northern France and Belgium.

Obvious Repetition

The aviation correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that it appears that nearly 2000 fighters participated in a fighter sweep yesterday. The Allies' sole object has been to reach military targets on the ground like artillery firing at enormous range. The whole picture makes an obvious repetition of the “operation strangle” preceding the latest land campaign in Italy.

One of the most remarkable features of the latest turn in the west is the complete lack of enemy reaction as far as Britain is concerned. There is no record of a single enemy plane crossing the English Channel in daylight this month. Only five were reported over Britain in daylight during April. The enemy at this critical juncture was forced to rely for aerial reconnaissance entirely on spy planes staying some miles off-shore.