The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-23
Nazi Aircraft Plants
Left In Flaming Ruins
Continued from Page ~

fatal. At least ten of the raiders
were shot down, two of them over
continental bases with one credited
to a Canadian Intruder.
The 9th U. S. Air Force carried
its offensive against German fight
er plane production centers through
its third day yesterday with attacks
on Bernberg, Ascl2ersleben and Hal
berstadt, all 30 to 105 miles south
west of Berlin, while, the 18th Air
Force in italy Joined in the assault
for the first time with raid on
fighter plane factories at Regens--
burg, ESQ miles south of Berlin.
Thunderbolt fighters which es-
corted British-based flying fortresses
to central Germany shot down Sc
intercepting German planes alone
while the bomberS themselves ac-
counted for an additional "a in some
of the fiercest aerial cmobats of the
battle Of Germany.
Flying fortresses and Liberators
from Italy shot down 40 out of 100
intercepting German planes during
the attack on Regensburg, an Al
gierS communique announced.
The fortresses shot down IA dur
ing SIS minute runninf battle south
of Regensburg and over the city it.
self, while Liberators destroyed the
remaining 26, some Of them rocket
firing twin-engined planes. Others
mounted 20-millimeter cannon.
The Mediterranean Air Forces &C.
counted for an additional ten enemy
fighters in engagements over the
Anzio beachhead below Rome.
81 Planes Lost
Fifty-seven Allied planes were
lost yesterday in all activity over
Axis Europe, which also included
small attacks on central and
southern Germany and occupied
!; France and Holland by British
based planes, and detectives in Italy
and Jugoslavia by the Mediterran-
can forces.
The 9th Air Force lost Al heavy
bombers and one fighter in the at
tacks on central Germany, while
Is planes failed to return to italian
bases. Another 10 American fighters
were reported missing from the
raids on central Germany, but
some, If not all, may have landed
at isolated bases.
The coordinated assaults on Ger
many from the south and west
constituted the start of an air Of
fensive which Prime Minister
Churchill predicted will reach a
pitch "far beyond Imagination in
an effort to speed an Allied victory
over Germany.
The initial stage OF the offensive
obviously was designed to smash
German factories turning out fight
er planes and thus clear enemy
skies for future large-scale opera
tons.
While the 18th air force from
Italy pounded a Messerschmitt 100
! assembly and aircraft component
factories at RegenSburg yesterday,
Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle's
British-based 9th Air Force success
fully attacked a Junkers SO assem-
bly, factory at Bernburg for the sec
ond time in three dyas and major
air frame and component plants at
ASchcersleben and Halberstadt.
Heavy Air Battle
The British-based flying fortress
es fought one Of their heaviest air
battles In recent weeks as 300 Ger
man fighters made repeated, des-
perate attempts to break UP their
formations.
Thunderbolt fighters assigned to
escort duty arrived at the rendez-
vous late because Of heavy weather
ana crossed signals. Though out
numbered three to one, the fighters
ripped into the hordes OF German
attackers and finally drove then,
off, but only after a number Of
fortresses had been shot down
Some Of heaviest anti-aircrsft
fire yet encountered over Germany
also contributed to the toll OF
American bombers and altogether
II failed to return. American fight
ers destroyed So German planes fcs
q known loss Of one Of their own
planes, though 10 others were miss.
ing.
Victories by the fortresses stiIl
we're being tabulated today.
Italian BASED Forts
Italian-based Flying Fortresses
and LiberatorS Of the 18th air force
flew 800 miles round trip for theiF