The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-08
Nazis Abandon Caution
And Saving Of Aircraft
Continued from Page y


Continued
lenged the Americans. and for the
most part they were knocked aside
by tight defensive ring of escort
planes.
Many groups over Berlin did not
see single German fighter. and
reported that their worst enemy
was the weather. The temperature
dropped to As degees below zero as
the bombers climbed more than four
miles high, dropping their bombs
through the overcast with special
devices.
Plenty OF Fighting
For the most part Jerry could
not break through the circle of
American fighters" Capt. Don Gay
lord Of Waterloo, Ia, pilot back
from Berlin, said. Our group did
not get a single attack, but our par
ticular escort did plenty of dog
fighting"
The forces which attacked Bruins
wick had a different story. More
than 100 Messerschmitts and F'ocke-
Wulfs rose through the clouds to
swarm against the bombers. The
Nazis even maintained their attacks
while the raiders were on their
bomb runs through anti-aircraft
fire.
I'VE were flying along peacefully
before the target when saw q
whole bunch of enemy fighters aim
ing at us through the clouds" Enc
1t. Geogre E. Herself of Spokane
Wash, a navigator related.
About IL of them slammed into
us, and few minutes later IS more
hit us in a head-on attack. They
were barreling right through the
formation from front to back. hold
ing down the triggers all the way
I saw seven get through one part
of the formation-and only three
came out on the other side. Right
ahead of us a Messerschmitt crash
ed into fort, and both blew up"
Split Formation
Staff Sgt. Anthony M. Scarpone
of Pleasantville, N. Y, waist gun
ner, said the enemy fighters ap-
preached in formation, then split
up and attacked singly from every
direction.
st followed one Focke-Wulf in
from the right wing and opened up
at him." he said. eat 300 yards he
blew up. and every piece was burn
ing as it floated down."
The bombers returning from Ger
many met new waves Of medium
bombers and fighters crossing the
Straits to continue the unremittine
assault on the Atlantic wall.
The drum of airplane engine;
drowned out normal noises in town;
along the English coast during the
morning. and to the din was added
the crash of bombs on the French
coast, clearly audible across the wa
ter.
American Marauders hit one Of
the busiest rail bridges Immediately
behind the channel coast. They
bombed the bridge spanning the
Seine on the outskirts of Rouen
less than so miles inland from Le-
Havre, over which the NaZis once
moced much of their equipment fol-
the channel ports. All Ma
rauders returned safely despite the
heavy anti-aircraft fire.
Thunderbolt fighter-bombers OF
the Ninth Air Force attacked 6
railway bridge at Mezieres, France
near the Belgian border and l0(
miles inland. as well as a trunl
highway at Nantes. More than l0C
other Thunderbolts carried oui
sweeps over the continent. One
was missing from the series of OPP
erations.
The daylight raids followed strong
RAP night attacks on Nazi air.
fields and ammunition dumps In
France. the chemical center OF
LeyeTkusen In western Germany and
Bucharest OF Romania.
In the 40 hours since clearing
skies permitted resumption OF full.
scale air attacks from Britain
American and RAP planes based
here and In Italy were believed Il
have dropped more than $4,000 tom
OF explosives on Adolf HitleT's shaky
European fortress.
OF this. one third OF the total
5000 tons, has bene easeaded on
Berlin In the two American Taidi
yesterday and today.
flying f0rtFe&ses made up the
bulk OF the force that hit the Ger.
man capital today, while LibefatorG
gent 20 Brunswick, MeSsersehmitl
aireroft center 100 miles 10 the west
Lighlningf, Mustangs and Thunder
bolts Of the 9Th and 9th v. 3. aiT
forces provided the escort,
Brain Center"
Berlin not only u the seat Of the
German government and ''tlls
Brain center Of Us war direction,
but also Is probably the most inn
poriant railway Junction tn Europe
and has the largest concentration
I. Average stFaisht-tine earnings
Increased - per cent.
q Actual average hourly earn.
lngs Increased nearly 30 per cent.
- -. A.