RAID ON FRENCH COAST

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22215, 7 March 1942, Page 5

RAID ON FRENCH COAST

Importance In Bombing Of Paris (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 5. Air experts point out that the parachute raid last week which culminated in the destruction of the Nazi radiolocation station at Bruneval, 12 miles north of Havre, was obviously part of a carefully prepared plan leading up to the Royal Air Force bombing attack on Paris arms factories. The problem which faced the Bomber Command was that no risk could be taken of missing the targets when the bombs were being dropped. Daylight raiding beyond the range of fighter escorts was decided to be too expensive and there was need therefore not only for a moonlight night but also for as little interference as possible from the enemy. The radiolocation station on the French coast would give the Nazi fighters time to gain the height necessary for attacking the British bombers, and its removal would give them a chance of reaching their targets unmolested. The plan worked perfectly and the bombs were known to have been dropped accurately on the objectives. It is also pointed out that it is now possible to see the value of even one minor operation such as the raid on Bruneval in the larger war strategy, as It has made a direct contribution to stopping supplies of tanks and other armaments going to Germany for use against Russia in Hitler s contemplated spring campaign.