May 1, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY MAY 1, 1944:

 

New York, N.Y.—London, England Monday, May I, 1944

63 U.S. Heavies Are Lost in Saturday's

2,000-Ton Attack On German Capital;

Toulon Struck Hard From Italy

With parts of Berlin leveled by the most devastating daylight air assauk

it has yet experienced, and with the French Mediterranean port of Toulon

smoking from its heaviest attack, the Allied pre-invasion air offensive rolled

on yesterday as Fortresses, Liberators. Marauders and Havocs, supported by fighters and fighter-bombers, pounded German airdromes, railway yards

and industries in France.

Berlin was bombed Saturday by approximately 1,000 American heavy

bombers, which set vast areas aflame with an estimated 2,000 tons of high

explosives and incendiaries. Despite their escort of about 1,000 fighters, the

heavies met furious opposition from enemy fighters, and 63 Fortresses and Liberators failed to return. Fourteen fighters also were lost. ..The bomber crews reported having shot down 72 enemy fighters, and the escorting planes claimed 16. Berlin radio claimed 12, U.S. bombers and eight fighters down.

Toulon was hit Saturday from the south in what was described at Allied headquarters in Italy as the greatest attack of the war in the Mediterranean area. For more than an hour Forts and Libs unloaded bomb after bomb on what used to be the main base for the French Mediterranean fleet. An estimated 1,50(1 tons were dropped on railways, arsenals, ammunition factories, repair shops and port installations. Eleven U.S. planes and 12 German fighters were reported shot down.

U.S. Radios

A Promise

Of Freedom

Europe Hears New Unit's

First Program; Russian

Paper Prods Allies

From troop-teeming Britain to the conquered peoples of Europe!, the U,S. sent its own promise last night that their day of liberation was "not far distant."

ABSIE. the American Broadcasting Station in Europe, was opened in London to send American news and entertainment features to the Continent daily in advance of the armies in action.  After the landings on Europe’s shores it will be used to broadcast instructions as well. Robert Sherwood, head of the Overseas Division of the Office of  War Information, said in the inaugural broadcast:

Another Jap Airfield Stormed

By Allies on New Guinea Coast

ejt