AIR OPERATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25565, 19 June 1944, Page 5

AIR OPERATIONS

HEAVY BOMBERS OUT INSTALLATIONS IN FRANCE (Rec. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 18. R.A.F. heavy bombers last night bombed military installations in Northern France while Mosquitoes attacked Berlin and targets in Western Germany. ' Bad weather yesterday cut down Allied air operations until just before dusk, when the offensive was resumed in strength; American heavy bombers struck at 11 enemy airfields in France, medium bombers attacked railways and fuel dumps, and fighters and fighterbombers swept over the battle area, lending close support to the ground forces. Forty-four Allied aircraft were lost by nightfall, representing a loss of 1 per cent, of the forces engaged. Thirtyfour enemy planes were destroyed. Spitfire bombers were detailed to-day to attack targets in the Pas de Calais area, while many other squadrons of fighters, fighter-bombers, and rocket projectile aircraft harassed enemy positions and troop concentrations in front of the army in Normandy. Mustangs bombed the railway yards at Mezidon and shot up motor transport. Some squadrons made a large number of uneventful sorties, escorting transport aircraft which were bringing supplies and equipment to the fighting zone. Algiers radio says strong forces of American bombers from the Mediterranean on Friday attacked five oil refineries in the Vienna region and six oil refineries in Bratislava.