GREAT BLOWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25563, 16 June 1944, Page 3

GREAT BLOWS

HEAVY BOMBERS 2600 OVER FRANCE DAY AND NIGHT ATTACKS (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, June 15. From early morning yesterday until after midnight huge forces of Allied heavy bombers swept out from Britain to plaster military objectives in France and Germany. No fewer than 1500 Fortresses and Liberators were out in the morning and 1100 Lancasters and Halifaxes carried on from before dusk until the early hours of this morning. To-day, German sources state that Hamburg was attacked by American bombers. Before darkness fell last night the R.A.F. struck a heavy blow against German E-boats by attacking the concrete pens at Le Havre. A strong force .of Lancasters was used, many of them carrying 12,0001 b bombs. Another large force attacked again some hours later. Troop concentrations and transport behind the battlefront in Normandy were pounded by other heavy bombers, while further formations struck at the Pas de Calais area'. Only five bombers are missing from all these operations. Mosquitoes paid another visit last night to the synthetic oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen, in Western Germany. Record Operations American heavy bombers carried out record operations yesterday morning, when over 1500 Fortresses and Liberators attacked many aerodromes and bridges in France and Belgium and the oil refinery at Emmerich, states an official announcement. The targets included airfields at Le Bourget, Creil, and Orleans-Melsbroek, in Belgium, and Eindhover, in Holland. After escorting the bombers, fighters hit numerous road, rail, and military targets in France. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed. Fifteen bombers and eight fighters are missing from these widespread operations. Before dawn medium and light bombers hit communications targets near Caen in close support of the ground forces. Attacks were made on marshalling yards at Mezidon and against bridges and traffic centres at Aunay-sur-Odeon, Falaise, Vire, Vimourties, and Flers. A very strong force of Ninth Air Force Marauders and Havocs went out at dawn for the assault against .communications and other military objectives in France. The bomber foray was . closely followed by fighter sweeps, which continued until late in the evening. More than 500 planes were engaged. Ten fighters were lost. Three enemy planes were shot down. Four medium bombers were lost in the 24 hours ended midnight last night. Fighters and fighter-bombers of the Second Tactical Air Force flew hundreds of sorties yesterday, beating up all sorts of enemy transport in back areas feeding the fighting line, and working in direct support of the ground forces. Several squadrons of rocket-carrying Typhoons were in action from an. early hour, giving close support to advanced elements of the army. In one case the army withdrew from a village near Tilly which is being strongly defended, while Typhoons went in and blasted the place into ruins and dust. South-east of the battle area Mustangs broke up a large convoy, and a Typhoon formation attacked a line of between 50 and 70 trucks. Far into France

Other formations struck far into the i.itericr, bombing traffic points and moving targets in the Chartres region, south-west of Paris, railway trucks west of Laval, and railway guns south of the battle area. No enemy fighters were encountered in these operations, but anti-aircraft fire was heavy One medium bomber is missing. Fighters, fighter-bombers, and rocket-firing fightersj some of which are operating from bases in Normandy, gave close support to troops in the Cherbourg Peninsula, cuttihg railroads and attacking large enemy convoys. Other fighters scored rocket hits on barges, batteries, coastal aircraft, and E-boats near Le Touquet. Of seven enemy vessels engaged, three were observed to sink and one was seen to receive such damage that its survival was considered unlikely. Of the remaining three, two were left stopped and burning fiercely. The Paris radio stated that 100 dead and 300 wounded were counted in Lyons after an Allied raid on Tuesday night.