The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-01-12
Big German Air Engagement
Will Bring Severe Losses
Nazis Say l23
Planes Shot
Down

fBF International News servtceb
Details were anXiously awaited
today Of what many observers De-
l!eve was the wars greatest air
battle. a savage melee IN which
American air fleets engaged Nuzi
interceptors in = three hour run.
ming fight over northwestern Ger.
many.
Although a terse United states
Eighth Air Force conmunique
merely acknowledged that Flying
Fortresses and their fighter es-
corts had smashed enemy targets
In that part OF the Reich. encoun-
tering heavy opposition. nothing
more was known officially
However. the Germans termed
the assault a record breaker in
size and claimed that i23 u the
raiders were shot down. The ma
jorlty OF the alleged losses were
said to be four.motored bOmbers.
The Nails said only Two OF their
planes were lost. but then added
the confusing admission that crews
Of seven more German craft wers
missing. There was absolutely
no Allied confirmation OF the enc
my claims.
Strike Oanzia
Though northwest Germany
was named as the Americans tar
get in the official commnnique.
Swedish quarters said the fank
formations had struck the large
submarine base at Danzig Berlin
also was said 10 have been among
the places raided.
Returning fliers said they en-
couhtered powerful enemy resist
ance. The enemy threw In every
type OF interccptor available along
the route OF approach. R2ckel-
firing fighters. diye'bombers anu
tow bomb intorceptors augmented
the standard MAIL pursuit forces
all the way to the target ana Daeh'
Escorting the American bombefs
were thunderbolts and lightninss'
AZ well as "other long range hgnr
ers.'
Ht Target
Crew members said the RAIDERS
hit the target kquarely.
Not only over Germany was the
American AIR Force making its
growing 81 sagth apparent TO 'ns
enemy. Owe. the Soutn%e a
rifIc areas. Gen. Douglas MacArth-
mrs airmen also demonstrated tbe4r
hitting power.
In day OF powerful bio
against Ian positions north OF Aus
tralia. bombers hammered ms
mighty enemy base OF Raball' ON
New Britain. Torpedo planes
ana divebombers bit the NipponeAs
stronRhold with bombs ranging no
Ia those one.ton in weight Inc
midday attach was carried out
against runways and other instsl'
lations on both Vunakanah ana -
bera airdromes. wreaking consiu-
cradle damage.
When 40 japanese planes sM'p1
into the skies to stop the raldef''
the Yank airmen sent l6 OF them
TO flaming destruction. only four
American planes we're lost.
In addition, other American
nlanes set two enemy ships aiilH
as well as IS Jap barges one OF
the vessels was destroyer caugh'
at New ireland.
On New Britain, meantime.
enemy counter-attacks cold IN ne
Bergen Bay area. Australian
troops drove past ScharhhoIsI
point and crossed the Burr River
in their drive to join American
forces pushing through the Huon
Feninsular iungles.
The eastern font famed win
activity as the NaziS brought up
heavy reinforcements In a desper-
ate attempt 10 stop Russion forces
driving toward the vital ode5so-
Lvov railroad. However, despite
the stiffening enemy resistance
both the first and second Ukrain-
ian armies continued their ad-
vance.
Gen. Nikolai Vatutln's first army
launched n new offensive south
west Of Novograd volynsk. 1t was
the fifth Soviet drive in as many
weeks. and was pointed at the
key rail junction OF Shepto'ha.
where five lines converge.
Meantime. another force OF his
army threatened at any moment