Evening star., 1943-11-03

Fy the Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 3.-American
Marauders attacked a German
airfield in Northern France to-
day in a renewal of daylight
raids on the continent by Brit
ain-based planes, after Mediter-
ranean-based bombers of the
new United States 18th Air Force
wrecked the Messerschmitt plane
factory at Wiener Neustadt.
Clearing weather after two weeks
of heavy fog and rain in England
made possible the latest thrust in
the new Allied air offensive against
Germany. The Marauders, escorted
by Spitfres, attacked enemy air
fields at St. Andre de Leure.
Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna. re-
ceived the heaviest Allied aerial
blow from Mediterranean base
since the Salerno landing operations
Allied headquarters at Algiers de-
clared yesterdays assault on the
principle factory manufacturing
Messerschmitt airplanes has caused
such havoc that it was doubtful
the plant ever would produce planes
again.
One of the greatest aerial battles
of the war took place in the Wiener
Neustadt area in Southeastern Ger
many as Nazi fighters in great force
rose to intercept the American Fort
resses and Liberators.
Full results are not yet known. but
Allied headquarters said at least 30
of the IS to 100 enemy fighters we're
shot down and that 6 American
bombers were lost.
The attack was made Just ahead
of announcement of the creation of
a United States 18th Air Force
under 1t. Gen Carl A. Spaatz, who
was given command of the entire
United States operations in the
Mediterranean.
Nazis Have New Bomber.
Evidence that the Germans also
are preparing for an intensified
aerial struggle has come in reports
that the Nazis have developed a
new and faster light bomber as well
as rocket shells.
The new bombers are understood
to have been used in hit-and-run
raids over England, which have
caused II alerts in London in the
last 18 nights, and the British press
describes the machine as powerful
twin -engined JU-188, carrying a
crew of two.
While the heavy bombers of the
18th Air Force were hammerine
Weiner Neustadt other planes OF
the old United States 12th Air Force
and of the Royal Air Force hit Ger
man objectives in Italy.
American Marauders bombed
ships and docks at Civitavecchia, Al
miles northwest of Rome, as we'll a.
railways in the area; American
Mitchells attacked railway yards al
Ancona on the Adriatic coast; RAF
Wellingtons bombed the Fiano Ro.
mano airfleld near Rome, and RAF
Bostons dropped bombs on motor
trucks in the Isernia area.
81 Planes Destroyed.
The total score for this bigges
day in the new air campaign by thu
Allies in the Mediterranean was g.
enemy planes destroyed in the air
against the loss of six Allied air.
craft.
Photographs taken during the
bombing of the Messerschmitt work.
showed a heavy concentration O.
direct hits on factory buildings
some of which were leveled, ane
other plants adjacent to the Mes.
|serschmitt establishment also were
hit
Pilots returned with stories OF
buildings collapsing in huge clouds
of smoke and with large fires en-
veloping the plant, which was de-
voted to assembly of the speedy
fighter plane which the Nazis have
made their chief defense against
growing Allied air power.
Spitf1res, using special technique
set fire to 13 tank cars of gasoline
near Avezzano, leaving smoke which
could be seen 100 miles away.
J