Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-03-23
Record Load of
Raj Explosives
Blasts Frankfurt
By the Associated Pres.

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for the second consecutive day
in the wake of a record 3,360-to tor
Raj night raid on Frankfurt
approximately 1900 American
bombers and fighters bombardec
three air bases in Western Ger
many today.
The American raiding force, which
Included more than 500 Fortresse!
and LiberatorS. bombed the aircraft
park at Werl, 40 miles east of Essen
Achmer Air Force station in Olden-
burg to the south and the German
bomber base at Handorf, a United
States Army Air Force announce
ment said. The Brunswick district
also was attacked.
The German air force, which
avoided battle when 600 or more
Fortresses and Liberators blasted
Berlin in daylight yesterday ap-
parently rose to meet today's bold
attack, for the German radio said
violent air combats we're fought
with the extraordinary large number
of fighters which accompanied the
bombers.
Fires Still Burning in Berlin.
The United States headquarters
announcement said Thunderbolts,
Mustangs and Lightnings doing es-
cort duty were in very great
strength"
Fires still burned in Berlin from
yesterdays attack by the Americans,
who dropped 1900 tons of bombs,
and Stockholm dispatches said tele-
phone communication with the Nazi
capital was still cut "a hours after
the attack. Mosquito bombers, max
ing foray over Berlin last night,
said the fires were visible 200 miles
away. -
While the heavies were ranging
over Germany in one of their most
far flung operations yet, American
medium Marauders bombed the Creil
railroad center in France the third
time in week, and also attacked
two airflelds.
Nazis Adopt New Tactics.
In opposing the Fortresses and
Liberators the German fighters
adopted a new tactic, the first re-
turning Mustang pilots reported,
and concentrated their passes on a
small part of the attacking forma-
tons.
AS result, other Mustang pilots
said, I'VE went almost to Russia
without being able to find any one
to fight
Crews returning from other tar
gets in Western Germany told of
encountering stiff German resist
ance, with some reporting sighting
groups of from rs to 100 enemy
fighters.
ID. c. Pilot in Raid.
1t. Thomas l.. Dexter of Washing
ton, D. c., pilot, said:
Enemy fighters made the most
suicidal attacks I've ever seen. Most
of their attacks were head-on and
some tried to ram us. We had
to take violent evasive action to
avoid hitting them. They flew right
through their own flax over the
target"
First reports OF todays raid came
from the Germans, who said in their
broadcasts that Allied bombers were
attacking the Western, Central and
Northwestern Reich.
Last nights raids on Frankfurt
and other targets cost to Raj 33
aircraft it was announced This was
IL more than in the last ,000-plane
assault Saturday, when Frankfurt
also was the main target.
The attack last night was the 18th
heavy bombardment of Frankfurt
1t was the third time in a week
that the Raj has sent out a force
of over 1000 planes.
The 1850 tons of bombs dropped
on Frankfurt, together with the
tonnage dropped on Berlin by the
Americans yesterday. brought the
bomb load sent down on the Reich
In the last "a hours close to more
than 1890 tons.
Last nights attack probably was
not as big, however, as the one on
Stuttgart on February Is, when
more than 1000 heavy bombers CEN
tered their whole force on that city.
Raid Lasts Half Hour.
The Raj hit Frankfurt unusually
early, around l0:45 pm, and un-
loaded showers of blockbusters for
about half an hour.
An hour after it was over Mos
quiJos saw huge expanSe of FIRE
into which they unloaded more
high explosives. Columns of smoke
scared a mile into the air.
A United States communicate last
night announced loss of Is American
bombers and nine fighters in the
Berlin attack. carried out by the
600 FortreSSes and LiberatorS and
(See RAIDS, Page Ala