The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-04-24
Tremendous
Air Blows
CONTINUED from Page u

SWISS QlSpaLCIleS QeSCT1DeQ C1le
bombardment of Friedrichshafen as
tremendous and said the explos-
ions broke windows across Lake
Constance in Switzerland.
The double pronged attack by
very strong forces of U. s. Flying
Fortresses and Liberators of the
eighth Air Force on Southwest
Germany was carried out by an
estimated 1000 planes, about half
of them Mustang, lightning and
Thunderbolt fighters.
Again the powerful daylight as
sault was concentrated on the
sources and facilities of the Ger
man air force. An afficial weekend
statement said German air reserves
already had been cut to a mere
trickle' and that the campaign
against it now was in its "climac-
tic phase"
FriedrichShafen, on the northern
shore of Lake Constance, and Mum
ich, cradle Of the Nazi party 100
miles to the northeast, are two Of
the main aircraft centers in south
west Germany.
Dispatches from the Swiss from
tier across from Friedrichshafe
said the U. S.. Heavy bombers pour
ed explosives on the town and near
by areas for 20 minutes shortly after
noon.
The explosions were so rapid that
they former a continuous thunder,
the dispatches said, shaking houses
on the Swiss side as if by an earth
quake. Four bomberS were seen
crashing in flames and others diving
at their targets, the Swiss reported.
-Four big fires were started in the
area of Friedrichshafen, the pre-
war Zeppelin center, the Swiss said,
and three columns of smoke rose
from nearby areas.
Generally good weather favored
the Fortress and Liberator attack
on Friedrichshafen, last hit by
American heavies on March 16, and
the air fields in the Munich region,
which were last bombed on April 10.
Big formations of Allied planes,
including many bombers, roared
across the Straits throughout the
day. Many squadrons of Thunder
bolts were seen heading for France
this afternoon. U. s. Ninth Air
Force Marauder medium bombers
yesterday completed their heaviest
six days of the war, and in which
they dropped more than $3.50 tons
in 10 missions.
Nazi broadcasts, lacking imme-
date confirmation said big bomber
formations fought violent battles
with Axis defense squadrons over
the Balkans and Germany around
Midday.
The Berlin radio warning system
traced the fight Of United States
bombers over western and south
western Germany and followed
through with report that they
hat attacked the southern Reich.
Other Raiders
At the same time the DNB news
agency reported other U. S. air
fleets sweeping up across southern
Yugoslavia and over Romania, add
ing that they were challenged by
both German and Romanian fight
erS.
The daylight attacks followed
Royal Air Force night raids on the
vilcvorde signal equipment depot
six miles northeast of Brussels and
thrust by Mosquito bombers at
Mannheim, Rhineland transport
center.
The air ministry said Vilvorde
was one of the German air forces
important bases, where 1t stored
great quantities of equipment for
squadrons In Belgium and northern
France. The assault on Mannheim
was one of the swiftest so far by
the Mosquitoes, lasting only three
minutes.
The procession of daylight raiders
across the English Channel began
at dawn and by dusk was expected
to boost the tonnage of bombs
dropped by more than $1,000 Amer
lean and British planes on Ger.
many, France, Belgium and Holland
In the past eight days to well over
$1,000 far eclipSing any previous air
offensive.
EignaI Equipment
British night bombers concen.
trated their block busters last night
on a signals equipment depot at
Vilvorde, six miles northeast OF
Brussels, while twin engined Mos
quitoes attacked the Rhlneland com
munications center Of Mannheim.
Germany.
Six bombers were lost in the two
raids and in extensive mine-laying
operations. another prelude to In
! vasion