SIX FIGHTER SWEEPS OVER EUROPE

Southland Times, Issue 24760, 3 June 1942, Page 5

SIX FIGHTER SWEEPS OVER EUROPE

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, June 1. British fighters made four sweeps over Occupied France and Belgium this morning and afternoon. The first squadrons swept the Cherbourg Peninsula and the Calais-Boulogne area. In the early afternoon many squadrons, including Hurricane bombers, went to Bruges, where the docks were bombed. There were many combats with German fighters in this attack. Two enemy planes were destroyed. Later in the afternoon a small force swept the Dieppe-Abbeville area. Nine British fighters are missing from these operations, but the pilot of one is safe.

Two further sweeps were carried out by the Fighter Command this evening. Hurricane bombers and Bostons were escorted by large forces of Spitfires to attack targets at Flushing and Calais. Describing these operations the Air Ministry News Service says that as the Bostons and their escorting Spitfires were on their way back from Flushing other squadrons were taking Hurricanes to Calais. The Hurricanes bombed a silk factory which makes parachutes for the Luftwaffe and bursts were seen in the middle of the factory. Delayed action bombs also hit the factory. The Bostons had a good bombing run at Flushing and hits were seen on the marine docks. There was no fighter opposition to the two operations.