Evening star., 1943-10-01

Fortresses Down 200
Nazi Fighter Planes
In September Raids
BY the Associated Pres

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Oct. 1.-Another power
full blow to the German Air Force
was disclosed today in a monthly
summary of United States 9th Air
Force operations listing more than
200 Nazi planes shot down by Flying
Fortresses alone in 10 September
raids.
The figure was exclusive Of kills
by Marauders and Thunderbolts-
addition of which may almost double
the number of German fighters
destroyed and come close to equaling
the previous months toll when ap-
proximately 400 were shot down.
The Royal Air Force also whipped
up the steady pace of destruction of
Hitler's once deadly air arm, but
actual figures of the number of
enemy aircraft downed by British
planes were nit given.
Destroyed on Ground.
The fact that the 9th Air Forces
two strong offensive wings-the
Fortresses and medium Marauders-
concentrated on enemy air fields in
occupied territory during the month
undoubtedly hammered a further
heaVy dent in German aircraft
reserves, for many Nazi planes were
destroyed on the ground.
On the debit side, the Americans
lost about 10 heavy bombers in
September against an August toll
of ia.
Inc American flyers fought their
greatest air battle of the month over
Stuttgart September 6, when Fortress
gunners accounted for 10 attac cking
fighters in sky melee that cost 81
big bombers but left the important
industrial city a mass of flames.
The pattern of the American
bombing offensive for the month
was shown in Al separate stabs at
enemy airdromes in France and
Holland. For eight straight days in
cooperation with the Raj, United
States bombers engaged in round
the-clock, cross channel offensive
against advanced enemy plane bases
Emden Raid Spectacular.
Ihe most spectacular raid in Sep
tember was directed at the Emden
naval base. The Fortresses we're
escorted all the way to the target
by Ihunderbolts carrying belly gas
tanks on round-trip flight of al
most 300 miles. In this foray, the
bombers knocked down l8 enemy
hghterS and the Thunderbolts sent
another % to the ground.
The Fortresses during the month
executed their first dusk raids land
ing IN full darkness. With a flare.
signal system and new bomb.
suspension arrangement permitting
transport Of load of incendiaries
IN aodltlon to high explosives, they
mace a scatter bombing attack
through heavy clouds against
Emden.
In nine major raids, Including
one against Berlin, two on the in.
oustrlal center of Mannheim -Lud.
"lgSha1en, one on Munich and one
on the Alpine tunnel at Modane
France. the RAF lost 1873 bonbers
an average of about 2l per raid.
100 Factories Blasted.
Aerlal reconnaissance photographs
made public today showed enormous
damage to Berlin's industrial struc.
ture in the last three RAF raids
on the Nazi capital-On August %
August 81 and September 3,
The pictures disclosed at least
loO factories in varying stages of
destruction. At least 80 were engi-
neerlng and electrical works.
Inc big concentration of bombs
was notably effective in Siemenstadt
an industrial community of $50 O0c
people where light and heavy cleo
trlcal equipment, Of first Importance
10 the German war effort, is manu-
1actured. The great Siemens elec.
trlcai works was partially wiped ont
Inc pictures show that a grotesoue
S,eel framework is all that remains
OF two big containers of the capitals
second largest gas works, those
located in the Mariendorf district
Three other gas works were hit as
we'll.
The Templehof railroad Yards
were blasted and five other freight
yards and five passenger stations
were destroyed or damaged. and the
Unterspree power station at Char
lOttenherp Uae Iit