Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-06
Allies Wreck
Flying Fields,
Supply Ships
I8 Air Transports
Oowned; More Than
1000 Sorties Made

- - - q - - AAASFAADN( ~ fAAN A~ASsos
North Africa April s UPl-
Powerful Allied air forces smashed
all records in the North African
theater. it was disclosed today.
when they made more than 1000
sorties Monday against the Axis,
destroyed over 100 airplanes, blew
up destroyer and set fire to sup
ply ships en- route TO Tunisia.
While American and British
ground troops held the initiative
in TuniSian patrol operations, the
air forces scored their greatest
victories over the luftwaffe in the
Monday aerial fighting at the cost
of only II of our aircraft.
One outstanding phase of the
lair attack was the destruction Of
Is enemy JU-52 air transport
Iplanes carrying supplies to the
forces of Marshal Rommel.
STILL REINFORCING
That indicated the Axis still was
reinforcing its Tunisian armies
with view TO fighting to the end
10 delay the Allied offensive
against Southern Europe.
Thirteen escorting fighters also
were downed by attacking Amer
lean Lockheed Lightning fighters.
Counting planes destroyed on
the ground. the Allied air forces
knocked out at least 100 enemy
aircraft Monday in a growing cam.
ipaign TO drive the luftwaffe from
the air over TuniSia.
The loss in flying personnel also
was heavy blow TO the Germans,
although it was believed the Is
destroyed air tranSports-which
can carry up to 30 fully-equipped
soldiers each-were loaded prima-
rily with gasoline.
NAPLES RAIDED AGAIN
CAT Cairo it was announced
American volunteer crews in
Liberators made suicide" at
tacks last Friday on the Italian
supply ports of Messina, San
Giovanni and Crotone, and that
all planes returned.
ION Sunday night Middle
Eastern Command bombers also
raided Naples less than II hours
after that big port was hit by
almost 100 Flying Fortresses.
Both Axis and Allied-con-
trolled radios reported that ar.
tlllery preparation by the Brit
iSh Eighth Army north of Gabes
and intensified patrol action in
TuniSia indicated a new and cli-
mactlc phase of the land battle
for Tunisia was about TO start)
Allied air operations throughout
the day were directed mainly
against enemy supply lines and
enemy air bases.
The operations included attacks
on:
A convoy Of Axis merchant
ships Is miles off Cape Bon,
extreme northeastern Tunisia-
three supply ships left in flames.
one destroyer blown up. Two
large barges directly hit.
Borizzo air field in Sicily
hundreds Of bombs scattered
about among 100 enemy fighters.
bombers and transport planes
and installations. Six MeSSer-
SchmittS and two Macchi POPS
shot down
STRADDLE 50 PLANES
Boca di FelS airdromc. Sicily
Many sticks of bombs from
flying FortreSSeS Straddled at
least 80 to 10 enemy airplanes.
Two MeSSerSchmittS and one
MacChi 202 destroyed when they
attempted intercepton
y Milo airdrome. Silicy- For
treSSeS hit a. least 80 or 81
enemy aIrpIaneS and fred
hangers.
Other attacks were made on
the SidIN Ahmed airfeld near
Blzerte and on alrheldS Al FL
Aoulna. La Fauconnerle and FL
Diem IN Tunisia.
Ground activity on all fronts ia
TuniSia was confined 10 patrol &C.
tlvity yesterday. Cen EisenhoVA
er'S commWiquc said. but a front
dispatch reported that American
forces on Tho Souih-centTal sector
pushed deeper INTO tho BT Mira
bou Pass. east Of FL Guettsr.