Evening star., 1943-08-28
Foggia Raid Revealed
As Brilliant Play 10
Smash Nazi Bombers .
BY JOSEPH MORTON.


AN ALLIED AIR BASE IN
NORTH AFRICA, Aug. 26 de-
layed) The spectacular low-level
attack by more than 100 American
P-38s on the Foggia groups of air.
dromes in Eastern Italy Wednesday
was disclosed today as brilliantly
executed play designed to smash
German bomber forces which had
been massed there in dangerous pro-
portions.
With all reports, including recon-
naissance photographs now at hand
men who planned and directed the
raid termed it one of the major
achievements OF the Northwest
Africa Strategic Air Forces.
At least one twin-engined Junkers
88-the enemy's best all-around
plane-was destroyed or damaged
for every Lightning in the attack
ing force. Several score enemy fight
ers also were knocked out.
The operation, largest of this type
ever attempted in this theater, was
mapped out with unusual care and
thoroughness. Not only were the
flyers "briefed" individually on the
part they were to play, but they
were actually called on to partici-
pate in two dress rehearsals at
North African airfields where the
terrain is similar to that of Foggia.
Never before had American pilots
flown so fast or so slow for so long.
Planes Widely Scattered.
II had my fingers crossed every
minute of the raid" one high
ranking officer who helped plan it
commented today. "It was something
new-an experiment-and there were
some who weren't convinced it would
work. Needless to say, they are sold
now
The story of the attack goes back
to the Tunisian and Sicilian cam
paigns when Allied augmentation
bombs smashed hundreds of Ger
man and Italian aircraft parked in
protective revetments on airdromes
The enemy apparently decided that
the only way to prevent destruction
was to disperse the planes over a
wider area and tried out the plan at
the new Foggia base.
Here the main field, with 10 or II
satellites. was spread over a large,
fiat valley. With no two planes
closer than 100 yards apart. the
German air force felt it could safely
rebuild its strong bomber force in
southern Italy without running the
risk Of crippling losses from Ameri-
can and British raids.
Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle.
commander of the American Strate-
gic Air Force in North Africa. and
his staff studied the problem and
decided that a low-level strafing at
tack was the answer.
Two Practice Raids Staged.
Although it meant additional time
for preparation, each pilot in the
large force required, was given one
particular role and coached on it
for several days. Finally. just be-
fore the time to strike, the entire
armada was sent on two practice
raids so that the technique might
be letter perfect
Then, with 1t. Col. George M.
MacNicol Of Memphis, Tenn, lead
ing them, they roared across the
western coast of Italy at $40 am.
Wednesday, less than rs feet off the
ground.
Those who planned the raid hoped
the Lightnings would reach Foggia
before the information could be
telephoned ahead. They did. Pre-
cisely at o'clock the first wave
swept down, two others following in
quick succession. When they
streaked away seconds later their
guns had left scores of burning
hombers and fighters behind. Not a
single pursuit plane had risen to
meet them, only scant anti-aircraft
fire.
A short time later a large group
OF Fortresses polished off the job,
adding to the destruction by bat
tering the remaining fields with
demolition augmentation bombs.