DAY ASSAULTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24878, 27 April 1944, Page 5

DAY ASSAULTS

RAIDED FRENCH TARGETS NANCY, METZ, PIJON ,OVER 1000 PLANES Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Heed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 26 The Allied air attacks on Germany and German-occupied countries continued yesterday in daylight. The o nly R.A.F. bombing last night was an attack by Mosquitoes on Cologne. £ll the planes returned. Nearly 500 Flying Fortresses and Liberators, with nearly 750 escorting planes, pattern bombed three important airfields at Nancy, Metz and Dijon, in France, with devastating loads. Lightnings swooped down on a fourth Luftwaffe airfield in Northern France. This operation was the ISth by the United States Eighth Air Force this month and the eighth in nine days. Slight Air Opposition Only slight opposition from German fighters was met. One Mustang group which escorted the bomber mission had what returning pilots described as a field day. They destroyed 17 enemy planes on the ground and damaged many more, and also shot down one Pornier, besides strafing a railway station, two locomotives and a. barrage balloon. Seven American bombers and two fighters are missing. "Canadian Spitfires, sweeping in advance of the United States heavy bombers, destroyed five enemy aircraft. Three Spitfires are missing. The English leader of the Canadian wing, Wing-Commander John Johnson, D.S.O. and bar, D.F.C. and bar, shot down two of the Germans, This brings his total to 27. Pas de Calais Attacks More Liberators, approaching a total of 250 strong, with a Mustang escort, again attacked Pas de Calais military installations, while over 175 Marauders and Havocs piled up destruction among German military objectives in Northern France. During the over the Pas de Calais area, our fighters destroyed 10 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, in addition to a number on the ground. Thunderbolt fighter-bombers of the United States Ninth Air Force divebombed two airfields in Western Belgium and airfields near Ypres.- All returned safely. The Germans report Allied bomber formations over the Central Reich this inorning. In spite of unfavourable weather, they say big forces of the Luftwaffe went up in defence and fierce air battles were fought. TWO RAIDS ON BRITAIN CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE fßecd. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 26 Four enemy aircraft were destroyed in raids over Britain during the night. There were two attacks, one around midnight and the second shortly before dawn. The raiders flew mainly over coastal districts of southern England and met heavy anti-aircraft fire. Bombs fell in several places, causing a certain amount of damage and a small number of casualties. A few raiders reached the London area. ATTACKS IN BALKANS EFFECTIVE PLOESTI RAID (Eecd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 25 Later reports on the American raid on Ploesti, Rumania, on Monday, show that bombs fell on railway lines, roundhouses, rolling stock and oil installations, Smoke and flame rose to a height of 5000 ft., and large explosions shook the entire area. Similar results were obtained at Bucharest, where a stick of high-ex-plosive bombs fell across the centre of the Ohitila yards. The effect of Allied bombing attacks 011 the Balkans is reflected in the fact that many essentia! workers have fled from the bombed cities. The Quisling police chief in Belgrade has the return of all doctors, chemists., shopkeepers and others who contribute to the normal life of the city. In other places the Germans have imported German labourers to repair railway communications bombed by American airmen. NEW ZEALAND SPITFIRES ESCORTS FOR MARAUDERS (Special Correspondent) LONDON April 25 The New Zealand Spitfire Squadron is taking full part in the Allied air offensive. It has recently been carrying out two operations a day escorting American Marauders and also divebombing military targets. On Sunday the squadron bombed a target near Cressy in the morning, while later in the day it escorted Marauders which were bombing Namur. Its pilots have not seen any German fighters for a month, the opposition consisting solely of flak, which has caused no losses. For the first time in its history the squadron is not commanded by a New Zealander. It is now led by a Scot, Squadron-Leader J. Niven, D.r.C., who is popular and efficient. His flight commanders are 1* light-Lieutenants Lindsay Black (Levin) and Kenneth Lee (Auckland). The squadron, which is now part ot the Second Tactical Air force, is living under canvas. DANISH SABOTAGE PRELUDE TO ISOLATION LONDON, April 25 The German isolation _ ot Denmark came after sabotage during the night, which reached a peak never before experienced since the German occupation, says the Danish press agency in Stockholm. Sixty separate explosions were heard in various parts of Copenhagen on Sunday night. Over 20 acts or sabotage were carried out againstbmk.ings which the Germans are using or on factories working for the Germans. Armed soldiers paraded the streets all night hunting lor saboteurs. SoAeial shootings occurred and one six-storey building was wrecked. The Gorman order isolating Denmark from Sweden is believed to have come direct from "Berlin. It was designed to prevent news of disturbance# from leaking out end to assist the authorities to catch patriots attempting to escape to Sweden. It was reported yesterday morning that Germany had suddenly stopped al air, sea and telephonic communications between Denmark and Sweden. Jno source of the report was the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Express. It was suggested that the step might }e du f to leakage of information through Denmark. MINES IN BALTIC SEA {Rpo<l. 11.30 P.m.) LONDON, April 26 A Stockholm newspaper says the ports of Southern Sweden are crammed with shipping as a result of recen Allied mine-laying in the Baltic. Most of the ships were to sail for Germany but their owners were unwi.ang to risk ihs minefields.