6/7/1944. 1.= pm. R. Wessel
Unusually fierce air battles flared up over Normandy
yesterday and these went in our favour. Russian
forces are now only 40 miles from Wilna and less than
16 miles from Baranowicze. Sheaf communique
confirms the captures of the railway of La Haye-du-Puits.
We have held our positions at Carpiquet but German
re-action was very fierce. American forces are nearing
a place 5 1/2 miles southwest of La Haye. The Luftwaffe
yesterday had strong formations of fighters up but our
fighters won notable air victories. 25 German planes
were destroyed during the day and 4 on the ground. we
lost 5 fighters. Our Lancasters last night penetrated deep into
France attacking railway yards at Dijon. All returned
safely. Light bombers attacked railway junctions and
bridges. The night before last a considerable number
of R- and E-boats were engaged in the Channel.
The House of Commons was crowded this morning
when Mr. Churchill gave his statement about the
flying bombs today. He said that in the early months
of 1943 we received very vague news that the Germans
might use long range guns. In July last year we
located the main experimental station at Wesermünde
which was subsequently attacked in August.
The bomb sites are between Le Havre and Calais and
since than we have dropped at least 50.000 tons
of bombs on them. Up to 6 o'clock this morning
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