Thousands Of Allied Planes Go Out As Weather Improves

Northern Advocate, 29 June 1944, Page 3

Thousands Of Allied Planes Go Out As Weather Improves

(Rec. Noon) LONDON, June 28. After a two-day lull, the weather improved yesterday and thousands of Allied planes carried on the blitz against targets on the Continent during the last 24 hours.

More than 3000 sorties were flown yc-storday. cheifly in the afternoon and evening, while Bomebr Command sent out 1000 planes during last night's operations. Following this at least 1000 planes went out this morning. The Allied Expeditionary Air Force alone flew 1500 sorties, while Eighth Air Force fighter-bombers which went out late yesterday for one of the most intensive low-level bombing and strafing attacks yet made, flew about 500 sorties.

In addition to attacking many targets they are reported to have destroyed or damaged five bridges and 6G locomotives and also shot up 370 railway waggons. Six squadrons of the Second Tactical Air Force bomb and rocketcarrying Typhoons last night demolished German Army Corps Headquarters located m a chateau at St. Saveur Endelin, south of Cherbourg Peninsula. More Flying Bombs

Flying bombs were again sent over Southern England last night and today. Thi' numbers seemed smaller than previously. Casualties and damage are reported. Anti-aircraft batteries and fighters frequently went into action.

Lancasters. Halifaxes and Mosquitoes were over Northern France in great strength last night to atlack flying-bomb sites and other constructional works, says an Air Ministry communique. At least six enemy fighters were shot down. Mines also were laid in enemy walws. Four bombers are missing. It is officially announced that a strong force of Eighth Air Force Fortresses and Liberators in clear weather this morning bombed German aerodromes at Couvron. Aphirs and Jouvincourt, all of which are in the vicinity of Laon. German railroad yards at Saarbrucken also wore attacked through cloud, and other military targets in the vicinilv of Paris and Laon were hit.

Medium-sized forces of Eighth Air Force Fighter Command Lightnings. Thunderbolts and Mustangs escorted the bombers. Ii is believed that between 500 and 750 heavy bombers, with 250 to 500 fighters, part icipated. Air photographs show that the Gelsenkirchen synthetic oil plant was completely inactive fer eight days after Bomucr Command’s attack on the night cf June 12. Every day’s stoppage costs the enemy more than 1000 tons of oil. Expert opinion is that the plant's future capacity will be scriouslv curtailed. Medium forces of Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Lightnings formed the escort for the Eighth Air Force heavy bomber sweep over France this morning, and also strafed and dive-bombed airfields and transport lines, shooting tip 14 locomotives. 73 railway cars, four truck."., and a number of other vehicles. In the course of the morning, lighters shot down two enemy aircrai'l. Two of our bombers and two Lightnings are missing. Allied heavy bombers from Italian bases, today attacked two oil refineries near Bucharest, railway yards at Chitila, on lhe main Bucharent-Ploesti line, and also Karlova airfield 75 miles east ol’ Sofia.