Fortresses and Liberators ranged
across western and central Germany
yesterday, pounding industrial
plants, railway junctions and airfields in the
wake of the RAF's greatest
bombing assault of the war—a 3,300-ton blow
at Frankfurt Wednesday night
Russian tanks and artillery met grwing
German opposition! in their drive toward the Bessarabian rail junction portion
of Balti yesterday, but east of the Bug River the Soviet /advance kept on
almost to the gates of Nikolaev.
New York, N.Y.—London. England Friday, March 24,
1944
U.S. Blasts Reich;
RAF Rains 3,300
Tons on Frankfurt
American Fighters Destroy 20 Nazi
Planes
As Luftwaffe Challenges Assaults
on
Multiple Targets: 27 Bombers Lost
Fortresses and Liberators ranged
across western and central Germany
yesterday, pounding industrial
plants, railway junctions and airfields in the
wake of the RAF's greatest
bombing assault of the war—a 3,300-ton blow
at Frankfurt Wednesday night.
As the American heavies and their
fighter escorts picked out their targets
in good weather, the Luftwaffe
showed signs of coming up to fight again,
and some U.S. formations fought
oil short but bitter assaults by as many
as 50 enemy planes.
The daylight
offensive—supplemented by morning and afternoon
Marauder raids in the occupied countries—carried the
LkSSTAF to 18missions this month, equal to the recordscore of February. It also
was the 13thattack of the irsonih on the Reich itself.
Twenty-seven bombers and six
lighters were reported missing from a force which included between 500 and 750
bombers and something less than 1,000 P47s, P51s and P3Ss of the Eighth and
Ninth Air Forces. Twenty enemy planes were destroyed by the fighters; bomber
claims had not been compiled late last night.
Several
Targets Hit
Railroad yards at Hamm, a war
factory at Munster and Luftwaffe bases at Achmer and Handorf were bombed in good
visibility, and. crews reported direct hits. Industrial targets at the Messe:-
schmitt production center of
Brunswick were attacked through clouds, the eighth assault since Jan. 1 on that
area.
347
German Planes
Shot
Down in a Week
WASHINGTON, Mar. 23 (Reuter)
•—American planes shot down 235 German
aircraft over Germany during the last week, Henry L. Siimson Secretary' of War,
said today. American bombers lost totaled 85 and fighters 48.
American planes operating from
Italy destroyed during the same period 112 German planes in the air, besides ~a
number on the ground.
Allied losses in Italy were 45
planes. "Allied air operations over Germany are certainly making inroads
on the strength of the German air force." said Mr. Stimson.
Reds Storm
Near Gates
Of Nikolaev
Nazis
Strengthen Forces
In
Bessarabia; Soviets
Gain
Near Tarnopol
Russian tanks and artillery met grwing
German opposition! in their drive toward the Bessarabian rail junction portion
of Balti yesterday, but east of the Bug River the Soviet /advance kept on
almost to the gates of Nikolaev.
A. Soviet breakthrough tbat
rolled back the Nazi lines 25 to 35 miles south
of the T.arnopol- Proskurov sector along the Polish border was announced
in last night's communique.
Tremowla. 18 miles south of
Tarnopol. old Kapuchintsy, 34 miles south of Tarnopol,
both on the Tarnopol-Cernauti
rail line, were among 200 phices taken. heavy enemy losses in men |and equipent
were reported.
ejt
No comments:
Post a Comment