The Stars and Stripes
Daily Newspaper of U.S. Armed Forces in the European Theater of Operations
New York, N.Y.—London, England Tuesday, April 6, 1943
100 Forts Smash Ships, 'Drome at Naples
USA AF Hits
Aero Works
In Antwerp
Four Bombers Shot Down
In Heaviest Fighter
Opposition
Flying Fortresses and Liberators struck at German armament works in
Antwerp, Belgium, in daylight yesterday, carrying the newest Allied nonstop
air offensive into its 72nd hour.
Four bombers and one of the supporting Allied fighters were lost in
what some veteran American airmen said was the most severe opposition
yet encountered on U.S. raids from bases in Britain.
it was the second U.S. raid in two days.
Sunday, Nazi factories near Paris were hit.
The attack, which was aimed at the big Erla Aero Engine works on the edge
of Antwerp, followed by only a few hours a crushing RAF night raid on Kiel,
in northern Germany.
The Air Ministry announced that Bomber Command attacked Kiel " in
great strength," a seldom-used phrase which observers said probably indicated
the largest RAF force in some weeks. Twelve RAF 'bombers were lost in the
attack on the Nazi naval base there.
Clear Weather For Run
Yanks Gain
New Ground
Near Guettar
Two Liners, Three Subs
Struck at Naples;
No Planes Lost
ALLIED HQ, North Africa, Apr.5--
Nearly 100 American Flying Fortresses smashed at the important
Axis port of Naples, Italy, yesterday, as the British Eighth Army prepared
for its next offensive move norlh of Gabes and United States troops under
Maj. Gen. George C. Patlon made new, though small, gains east of El
Guettar.
Naples has been raided five times by Liberators, but this was the first time the
Forts had hit the port, and they dumped a load of bombs four times as heavy as
in any previous Allied raid. All planes returned safely.
The whole attack was crammed into 15 minutes. Ten ships in Naples Harbor—
two liners, three submarines, and five other vessels—were hit by :he Forts'
bombs. Fires quickly spread along the wharves and nearby industrial districts
after the bombs exploded, pilots said. Bursts were seen in an unfinished drydock
and in the drydock area.
27 Planes Destroyed
Bombers Smash
Jap Ships Again
Off New Ireland
No Vessels Left Near Base,
Toll of Warships Sunk
Reaches Seven
ALLIED HQ, Southwest Pacific, Apr.5—
American heavy bombers struck again at Jap naval concentrations off Kavieng.
New Ireland yesterday, scoring direct hits on p. light cruiser, a destroyer and a
6,000-ton merchantman, today's official communique reports.
All Jap shipping in 'the Kavieng area now has been completely destroyed or
dispersed following a three-day Allied aerial assault which began on Friday, the
communique added.
During the engagements seven Jap warships of the cruiser or destroyer class,
and five merchantmen aggregating 36,000 tons have been sunk or heavily damaged.
Three additional enemy destroyers and one 8,000 ton merchantman were
attacked and possibly damaged. Allied losses have been limited entirely
to damage to planes all of which have returned after each operation, the communique
added.
Yesterday's attack was carried out just before dawn and searchlight flare and
great clouds of smoke from bomb explosions prevented accurate observations of
the results. No aerial opposition was encountered although each strike involved
a flight of 1,100 miles, the communique disclosed.
Channel Guns Exchange
Shots More Than 2 Hours
British and German guns duelled across the Channel for more than two
hours early yesterday, and there was intermittent shelling until 6 AM. Dover
and other coast towns had warnings. Some shells from across the Channel fell
near Dover. There was no report on damage or casualties.
Davey Crockett, Alamo Hero's
Descendant, Joins Air Force
By Arthur W. White
Stars and Stripes Staff Writer
Davey Crockett, great-great-grandson of the Tennessee bear hunter who died
fighting at the Alamo, joined the U.S. Army Air Force yesterday.
The 18-year-old Crockett—who has never even seen America, let alone the
backwoods where his Ancestor grew to be a legend—was sworn in at the U.S.
Army recruiting office in London. Crockett could tell you that his illustrious
great-great-grandfather was born in 1786 and died in 1836, but his frontier
lore is all second-hand. He was born at Gravesend, Kent, England, of American
parents, and thus had dual nationality until he was sworn in yesterday by Lt.
Winston K. Pendleton.
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