London, May 20, MATIONS of British bomber aircraft carried out extensive operations in Belgium and France yesterday with the object of harassing lines of communication of the German advance, and to relieve pressure on the Allied armies, according to an Air Ministry announcement.
Our fighter aircraft, patrolling in their support," the statement added, "accounted for a large number of enemy aircraft of all types.
From preliminary reports received relating to the part only of our fighter activities, it is known that at least 20 enemy aircraft were shot down, "Harassing operations were continued during the night by heavy bomber formations.
In southern Belgium, bridges were hit, troop concentrations broken up, and roads blocked. Simultaneously, other formations of night bombers penetrated into Germany, where direct hits were made on oil fuel tanks at Hanover. At other points, railway junctions and sidings suffered considerable damage.
All night, continuous watch was kept on military traffic over a wide area in western Germany, and offensive action was taken against enemy movements.
Rail and road communications were attacked.
At one point a heavy explosion was caused. At another aerodrome, buildings were set on fire.
"Hudson aircraft also carried out successful night operations, causing further damage to oil fuel' tanks at Hamburg. and Bremen, Two Blenhelm aircraft patrolling off the Dutch coast encountered a formation of three Heinkel 111's and three Messer-schmidt 110s. They immediately attacked and shot down two Messersehmitts."
Royal Air Force bombing operations were continued last night against enemy lines and communications south Belgium and selected military objectives. in western Germany, an-Jother Air Ministry communique states.
'A. further Air Ministry. bulletin states that during offensive patrols by RAF. fighters over France ang Belgiim yesterday, one patrol of five Hurricanes shot down at least three and probably six German Heinkel Li's near Brussels. A. "second and larger patrol encountered only two enemy "aircraft. one of which, a Heinkel 111, is believed to have been shot down, the bulletin added.
Friday night, when oil storage tanks in Bremen and Hamburg were among targets attacked, show that the area of the raids extended from Hamburg In the north to Sedan in the south.
addition. to extensive damage inflicted on German all depots and Jenemy acrodromes, troop columns and Fond and rail juneiions in many parts of Germany and enemy" occupied territory are claimed to. have been effectively bombed. Powerful forces of Whitley, Wellington and Hampden heavy' bombers took part.
'Throughout Friday night and the carly hours of Saturday morning relays of these aircraft' Kept up continuous bombardments of enemy objectives of vital importance.
Opposition came from massed searchlights, highly organized antiaircraft batteries, balloon barrages and at times. from enemy fighters, but nevertheless the majority of the aircraft succeeded in locating given objectives and causing heavy damage. The few that failed to find their
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.