DAYLIGHT BOMBING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 35, 11 February 1944, Page 5

DAYLIGHT BOMBING

OFFENSIVE CONTINUES SWEEPS ACROSS EUROPE Reed. G p.m. Rugby, Feb. 9. Strong formations of A.A.F. and R.A.F. medium, light and fighterbombers swept across the Channel in sunny weather on Wednesday morning to continue their hard-hitting attacks against military objectives along the coast of northern France and strategically important railway yards further inland. By noon hundreds of aircraft had returned from widespread operations over north-east France and not one reported a single encounter wit.l) enemy fighters. The operations started before dawn, when ground crews in southern England bombed up Typhoons and Hurricanes, which flew out across the Chajinel before breakfast to open the assault. Military objectives in the Pas de Calais area were the targets. Fighter-bombers, escorted by Typhoon lighters, reported many bomb bursts in the target areas. They encountered heavy, medium and light flak, but reported a complete absence of enemy lighters. Flying on their third mission in 35 hours, Marauders penetrated more than 100 miles into France to batter the railway yards and engine repair sheds at Tergnier, an important rai. l junction and distributing centre midway between St. Quentin and Soissons. It is the deepest inland Marauders have flown since the.y began operating from English bases last July. Other waves of Marauders, all flying under an umbrella of R.A.F., Dominion and Allied Spitfires, simultaneously shattered military objectives in the Pas de Calais area. In all, more than 200 of these medium bombers crossed the Channel. ENEMY SVRPRISED. The Marauders’ crews said the attack on Tergnier caught the enemy by surprise, and they reported direct bomb hits on the huge engine repair shops and freight trains in the railway yards. A long freight train was pulling out of the yards as the Marauders attacked. One bombardier said his formation’s bombs ripped up the centre of the marshalling yards and blew a number of freight trains skyhigh. R.A.F. Mitchell and Boston bombers went out in strength to attack targets in northern France. All returned. Among them were Lorraine (Free French) Boston squadron and Mitchells of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service. Low level, attacks, again without loss, were made by R.A.F. and R.A.A.F. Mosquitoes. The Mitchells, Bostons and Mosquitoes were accompanied by Allied Spitfire squadrons, which provided an escort and an umbrella. The Air Ministry states: “Last night aircraft of the Bomber Command attacked objectives in Germany and France, including the Gnome-Rhone aero engine factory at Limognes. One of our aircraft on patrol destroyed a six-engined enemy flying-boat over its base on the west coast of France. None of our aircraft is missing. “A flying-boat was shot down over Biscarosse, near Bordeaux, by an R.A.F. Mosquito fighter. “United States medium bombers and R.A.F., Dominion and Allied medium, light and fighter-bombers (Bostons, Mitchells, Mosquitoes, Typhoons and Hurricanes) attacked military objectives in northern France this morning. An escort and cover for the medium and light bombers were provided by RA.F., Dominion and Allied lighters.” —8.0.W.