The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-04

III one aGVack Dy AmerlCdu ulSuA' um bombing squadrors, an Axi' airfleld was hit heavily and many hits were reported on the targe' area, causing big fires to spring uI among Nazi planes parked at thu bases.
 American planes were credited with the destruction of at least twC German planes in combat, on Messerschmitt 109 and the other al E 110
 Air Vice-Marshal Arthur Coming ham sent message to American medium bomber units, thainkinl them for their operations.
 Many thanks" he said, flor you great assistance in the current day bombing. We are full of admiration for the work of your crews. knov our squadrons are delighted. Wei done and good luck"
 200 Blows During Day
 More than 200 sorties were car ried out through the day by thu Allied air force without the loss O. a single bomber. However, 12 Allied planes were missing and five pilot were known safe. At least three German planes and probably con- siderably more were shot down.
 Attacks on two conveys by RAF planes were reported.
 Both were made Wednesday night The RAF reported direct hits or one ship in each convoy and saic both were damaged badly.
 The bombers struck home as onC convoy was slipping out of poin and hit tanker with one bomb The second convoy was attacked by torpedo planes and one ship wa hit by two torpedoes.
 The almost complete absence oi the Luftwaffe from the desert bat. tie skies contrasted sharply witt German air action in the initia days of fighting when frequent squadrons of 40 or more divt bombers, escorted by up to 50 fight. CTS, ranged over the desert.
 Bombers of the United State' Army air corps shot down Ger man Messerschmitt-1 fighter yes, terday in fighting of enemy attack and planes of the British and Soutt African air forces shot down thret other fighters, it was announced.
 Nazis Seek Soft Spot
 There was no premature optimism here over the offensive of Rommel now in its fifth day, and it wa! conceded that after failing to tral the British armored forces at th' southern end of the front he wa probing for a soft spot to start thu second phase of his assault in supreme attempt to break througf to SueZ.
 But so far Rommel had failed t dent the British main line, he hat declined a British challenge to frontal fight, and his forces hat made two separate withdrawal after their first advance througl the defensive imperial mine fields
 Allied medium bombers, includinl those of the U. S. Army 18th bonn bardment group, kept up nigh and day attack on the enemy ar mored corps and on powerful rein forcement conveys moving to tn front under the protection of tanks armored cars and mobile anti-air craft guns of the crack Germal 90th light division.
 Not a single one of the medium was lost in day of ferocious at tacks yesterday which set up neH all time record for aerial warfar in Africa.
 Pressure On Enemy
 Throughout yesterday our lanl forces continued pressure on tn enemy area between the Himeima Peak and the Ruweisat Ridge" to days joint communique of the Mid de Eastern command and the Roy al Air Force said.
 "The enemy's main concentration moved slightly westward during tn day.
 "Allied light bombers broke tn previous days record for sortie against enemy concentrations. As our fighter bombers were active Results were satisfactory. No bomb CTS were lost.
 "T'hree enemy fighters were sho down during the day by our escort ing aircraft, No enemy dive bomber operated over the battle area,
 "A Heinkel-ill (heayy bomber was shot down over the Mediterran can by our long range fighters. ] Cant-Zll0T utalian heavy bomber was destroyed near Burg Fl Aral $50 miles southwest Of Alexandra on the Egyptian coasi). Bomber air craft of the United States Army Al craft shot down q Messerschmitt ilO."
 RommelI had now split his mali force into several columns on th 20-mlle line bttWeen the Himelma Peak ct the soatheEn end of th front and the Ruweisat Ridge, [ the north. seeking the soft spot h needed for a new advance, Naxl Commander Failed
 The German commander in chic had definitely failed in hts whlri wind attempt to rush the Britls seventh and 22nd alinored brigade and it was necessary for him bring up supplies and mass his gur for the next assault.
 Lieuterafat General D. L. Mont