Evening star., 1944-04-26
No Heavy Planes,
OnIySix Fighters,
Lost on Mission
Ey the Associated Press,

LONDON, April 26.-American
FortresSes and Liberators, flying
in medium strength, attacked
the aircraft production center of
Brunswick and other targets in
Western Germany today with
out losing a bomber.
A strong escort of Mustangs,
Lightnings and Thunderbolts, which
made up a total raiding force of
probably more than 1000 planes,
also went to the formerly strongly
defended aircraft production center
without sighting single enemy
fighter.
Some of the fighters swept air
fields in France with fire, however,
and the crews reported heavy anti
aircraft and rocket defenses over
Brunswick. Six of the fighters failed
to return.
The Fortresses and Liberators
from Britain, carrying out their
ninth operation in the course of
12-day offensive which has been
the greatest of the war, bombed by
instrument through overcast skies,
which apparently hampered the
enemy defense.
100 Miles West of Berlin.
Brunswick, on the route to Berlin
and 100 miles west of the German
capital, has been one of the bloodiest
targets on the books of the United
States Strategic Air Forces. Sixty
American bombers failed to return
from the daylight attack on the pro-
duction center on January IL, when
152 Nazi fighters were destroyed.
The Raj lost 38 bombers there on
January IA, and in the last attack
on the city, on April 8, the Ameri-
cans lost "a heavy bombers, while
shooting down 148 enemy aircraft.
Today's mission, the 18th this
month by the 9Th Air Force, while
employing over 1000 planes, was
considerably smaller than the 2,000-
plane armadas which have thun-
dered from Britain in daylight five
times since the huge offensive began
from Italy on April Is.
The German radio declared the
American force invading the air
over the Reich tangled with Nazi
fighters in fierce battles as the air
drive, which has scourged enemy
targets in q 750-mile arc across
Europe, rolled forward.
While the heavy bombers con-
tinued their offensive hundreds of
lighter planes crossed the Channel
in an onslaught against targets in
occupied territory similar to the
attacks which cost three bombers
yesterday. The explosions from
their assault were heard all the way
across the Channel.
Meanwhile CHS Correspond
ent Howard K. Smith In broad
cast from Bern reported Buda-
pest in Hungary half destroyed,
Sofia in Bulgaria three-fourths
destroyed and German rail traffic
snarled throughout the Balkans
by Allied bombings)
Mosquitoes Pound Cologne.
Swarms of daylight raiders scared
out after night Mosquito squadrons
had pounded Cologne-hit three
times before in this current cam
paign-and other planes sowed
mines, all without loss.
The United States bombers pene-
trated into Central Germany and
flew back over Northwest Gervanyo,
the Nazi radio said.
Despite unfavorable weather con-
ditions, the American bombers were
met by strong forces of German air
defense throughout the course of
their flight and were involved in
intense battles" it said
More than 1000 Allied planes few
out from Britain yesterday, and the
Mediterranean air force sent heavy
bombers against an aircraft factory
at Turin and rail yards at Ferrara,
important junction connecting the
Gulf of Venice with the interior OF
Northern Italy. Thirteen big bomb
ers were lost, along with three other
planes in all operations from italian
bases.
1880 Allied Airmen Lost.
In IL days this mightiest of sky
offensives has lambasted the Ger
mans with over $4,000 tons of ex-
plosives and thousands of incendi-
aries-and cost the Americans and
British probably more than 2,30C
airmen and 389 planes.
Most of the 1900 men aboard these
lost aircraft are believed to be safe
as prisoners, but that personnel cost
does not include the dead anc
wounded on planes that returned
home after sky battles.
The material cost includes about
$50, 100000 in aircraft, probably as
much in education expenses of flyers
and crewmen, and tremendous
amounts for bombs, fuel, main
tenance, wages and dozens of other
items involved in hitting the enemy
with huge air strength.
The 389 planes, however, are only
slightly more than l per cent of the
total of $4,000 used in the IL days
and the Allied command rates this
as reasonable cost.
The Germans have suffered a tire.
Ynendous toll and the results may
curtail the length of the war by
months, air experts say.
British Coastal Area Raided.
More than TOO of Germany's
fighter planes have been reported
wrecked-with replacement an eve,
harder problem-and heavy destruc-
ton has been caused in German
cities, war factories, airflelds, other
communication lines and anti
invasion defenses.
Enemy raiders pounded two
British south coast towns during
the night in double-header blows
first hitting soon after midnight
and then returning before dawn.
At least four airplanes were
downed by antiaircraft guns. .,
An official announcement SAID
damage and a small number OF
Casualties resulted.