AIR OFFENSIVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25457, 11 February 1944, Page 3

AIR OFFENSIVE

TARGETS IN FRANCE ABSENCE OF ENEMY FIGHTERS RUGBY, Feb. 9. Strong formations of U.S.A.A.F. and R.A.F. medium and light fighterbombers swept across the Channel in sunny weather this morning to continue the hard-hitting attacks on military objectives along the coast of Northern France and strategically important railway yards further inland. By noon hundreds of aircraft had returned from widespread operations over North-eastern France. They did not report a single encounter with enemy fighters. , , . The operations started before dawn when ground crews in Southern England loaded bombs into Typhoons and Hurricanes which flew out across the Channel before breakfast to open trie assault on military objectives in Pas de Calais area. The fighterbombers were escorted by Typhoons. The fighters reported many bomb bursts in the target area. The y encountered heavy medium andlignt flak, but reported a complete absence of enemy fighters. Railway .Junction Battered Flying on a third mission in 36 hours. Marauders penetrated more than IUU miles into France to batter'the railway yards and an. engine repair shed at Tergnier, an important railway junction and distributing centre imwav between St. Quentin and Soissons. Tt®V the deepest inland penetration that Marauders have m ade since they hoean operations from English base., fast July P Other waves of Marauders. all flving under an umbrella of R.A.r Dominion and Allied. Spitfires,, simultaneously’attacked military objectives about Pas de Calais. ajh "l°re tha 200 of these medium bombers cros.eu th Crews nn of 1 ' the Marauders said that £fby Ck suS dheri bomb hits on. the huge engine repair shops and freight trains in th. railway yards. A long freight tram was pulling out of the yards as the Marauders attacked. One bombardier said his stick of bombs ripped up tne centre of the marshalling yards and blew a number of freight trains skyhigh. R.A.F. Night Raid RAF. Mitchell and Boston bombers went out in strength to attack targets in Northern France. All returned. Among them were a Lorraine Fighting French Boston squadron and Mitchells of .the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service. Low-level attacks, again without loss, were made by R.A.F. and RA.A.F. Mosquitoes. Mitchells, Bostons and Mosquitoes were accompanied by Allied Spitfire squadrons, which provided an escyrt and umbrella. An Air Ministry communique states: “Last night aircraft of Bomber Command attacked objectives in Germany and France, including the Gnome Rhone aero engine factory at Limoges. One of our aircraft, on intruder patrol destroyed a six-engined enemy flying boat over its base on the west coast of France. None of our aircraft is missing.” The flying boat was shot down over Biscarosse. near Bordeaux, by an R.A.F. Mosquito.