R.A.F, made another offensive sweep over France before noon today, it is announced.
A large number of fires were started during the attack on the naval base of Kiel and the port of Bremen on Wednesday night, says an Air Ministry communique.
Fleet Air Arm aircraft, ce-operating with the Coastal Command, were also active during the night, severely bombing docks at Boulogne.
Thirteen German fighters were shot down in two offensive sweeps by the Royal Air Force over northern France when bombers and fighters continued their relentless onslaught against objectives in occupied territory in daylight, yesterday.
British' losses total three Aghters missing and one bomber which was; seen to be hit by anti-aircraft fire.
In the first operation, soon after mid-day yesterday, Blenheim aircraft of the Bomber Command, with o strong. escort of fighters,' attacked railway goods yards at Hazebrouck (about 30 miles from the French coast between St, Omer and Lille)... Bombs were seen to burst in the yards which were crowded with trae, An ammunition train wag blown up and dense smoke covered the area.
Direct hits were scored on two railway ridges, one-of which col-Tapsed, Seven German planes were destroyed during this operation.
Tu the second sweep, a_ German airfield (Longuenesse near St. Omer) was bombed and hangars and bulld-ings were hit. Six German machines were destroyed on that occasion.
"Gave Him a Burst"
A flight-commander, who was lead-{ng three squadrons in the first sweep. described what happened when some fof Germany's latest fighters attempt ed to intervene. "I swerved down fon top of one of them and gave him a burst. It seemed to take quite a time to' finish him off but tually he went down." A pilot officer saw dogfight between six Messerschmitts and two Spitfires. He went straight into dottle and promptly sent one of the Messersehmitts shooting down earth, The almost non-stop day and night offensive of the Royal Air Force against Germany and Germans occupied territory ts the beginning of a campaign which was described 'a5 the most gigantic air offensive in the world's history,
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