HEAVY BOMBERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25562, 15 June 1944, Page 5

HEAVY BOMBERS

OFFENSIVE KEPT UP COMMUNICATIONS ATTACKED CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS j (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, June 14. ] Early last evening, after a midday lull caused by bad weather, Allied aircraft resumed the offensive in one of the most concentrated efforts since the opening of the campaign, says a communique from Allied headquarters. Enemy fighter opposition was sporadic, but many of our planes encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire. Heavy day bombers, with fighter escort attacked six bridges on the north-south railway system across Brest Peninsula and airfields at Beau-vais-Nivillers and Beaumont-sur-Oise. Further to the south-east two large formations of fighter-bombers attacked railway bridges over Ine Loire at La Possoniere and La Portboulet. Another formation patrolled the EtampesOrleans railway, seeking out traffic. Throughout the eherbourg Peninsula and in the immediate battle zone large groups of fighter-bombeis and rocket-firing aircraft attacked German -troop concentrations, motor transport and other targets indicated by our ground forces. Medium bombers and fight bombers in considerable strength bombed fuel dumps at Foret, Dandau l, Domfront. and St. Martin, and also th highway junctions of Marigny and patrols continued throughout the day and evening Fighters last night shot down fivenemy planes attacking the beachhead. Light bombers, without loss, attacked railway yards at Mezidon.

Target in Germany Fortresses and Liberators to-day bombed an oil refinery in western Germany and airfields in France and Belgium. They were escorted by strong formations of Thunderbolts, Lightnings and Mustangs, which also bombed strafed military targets. Marauders and pavocs attacked commumcali°RAF. bombers last, night attacked military objectives in western Germany. Mosquitoes bombed railway yards south of Caen and other formations attacked rail traffic and bridges. Heavy bombers based in Italy struck at Munich in daylight yesterday, and last night the bombers went back to the same area for a second attack. Reconnaissance planes on Monday brought' back evidence of the success of our systematic isolation of the figh - ing areas in France, said a correspondent at Allied Headquarters. Many railway junctions in the surrounding area were completely devastated and impassable to traffic. Attacks by heavy bombers on airfields on Monday suited in severe damage to seven ot sixteen, and considerable but less damsTgnificance of Monday night s hombing of Cambrai and Amiens is that they are important . J on the route along which the Germans are moving, or will move, reinforcement from Flanders to Normandy. Many tons of bombs rained down on a huge panzer marshalling area in the forest of Grimsborsq within a few minutes by British and French Bostons and British and Dutch Mi cheUs Great devastation was seen in this operation, one of many carried cut by the Second Tactical Air Force with the object of smashing the enemy s preparations for counter-attacks. P Fighter-bombers and rocket-firing fighters made widespread attacks o military transport and troop move ments, while Spitfires provided constant protection for the beaches. Rocket and bomb-carrying Typhoon, and Mustangs reported a number of highly-successful attacks against mill tary trains. One highlight of the manj attacks against road transport was a Typhoon assault on an ammunition lorry, which crashed into a military building and blew it sky-high.

Threat to Industries Despite the part R.A.F. Bomber Command has played in the mvasion with its offensive on road and rail centres in occupied countries and coastal batteries on the French cuast, the pause in the bombing of Germany itself lasted only three weeks. The R.A.F. attack on Gelsenkirchen on Monday night was made in force. Some 1400 tons of bombs were dropped The enemy is so alive to the threat to the industries of Germany that he is keeping back a large number of lighters to defend the Reich. On Monday night fighter packs did not arrive over the target until the end of the attack, but they pursued the Lancasters on the route home. There were a number oi fierce combats. At least six enemy aircraft were destroyed. “ Judging from the number of fighters the enemy sent up,” said one experienced pilot, “ it looks as if the air defence of the Reich is still intact. There was no sign that fighter opposition was less strong than usual. Even the ground defences were as formidable as ever. Searchlights in the Ruhr area were very numerous, and the enemy put up a heavy barrage.”