The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-09
First Returning Flyers Report No Foe Fighters
(Continued from Page D

Powerful groups from U. s. Eighth and Ninth Air Forces and British fighters again threw a protective shield around the bombers, an Army headquarters comm u nique an- noVnced.
 Heavy bOlnberS of the Eighth Air Force again attacked targets in the Berlin area today" the communiQue said. "They were escorted by strong forces of fighters of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces and the Royal Air Force.
 '"The attack on Berlin was the fourth by heavy bombers in the last six days, and was hte fifth time in seven days AAF aircraft have been over the city"
 2nd Bombardment
 The second straight bombardment of Berlin and the third in four days emphasized the weight of the drive to stamp out the remaining military potential of the charred and pitted city and at the same time knock the Luftwaffe out of the skies over it's homeland.
 The new attack reflected the pow erful reserve strength of American Air Forces massed in Britain, now able to strike repeatedly despite such losses as 8 record 68 bombers Monday and 38 yesterday.
 U. s. Headquarters announced that 125 German planes we're shot down yesterday, 42 by Fortresses and LiberatorS gunners and 83 by their fighter escort.
 From the small beginning last Friday when fighters made the first American aerial pass at Berlin, the campaign had grown to the forlnid- able proportions of heavy bombers parading in strength over the capi- tai for two consecutive days.
 The daylight offensive still was picking up momentum, and now rivaled the best three nights the RAF ever had against the most bombed capital in the world.
 The announcement of 125 Ger man planes destroyed yesterday raised to 30l the number downed in the first two big American at- tackS on Berlin. Thirty eight Amer tcan bomberS were lost yesterday, as against 68 Monday. Today's an- nouncement said that one fighter previously reported lost had turned up, reducing the number lost to IS.
 Main Buildings Hit
 The official statement said that all four main buildings of the bail bearing factory in the suburbs of Berlin, primary target yesterday, were hit. At least one was damaged badly and left ablaze.
 Such large fires were burning and so much smoke was in the air that the other three buildings could not be observed In later pho. tographs, but the first bomb strike photos showed heavy concentration of bombs on the entire plant" headquarters said.
 The Berliner MeSchinenbau fac tory in the Wildau district of Ber- lin also was damaged, three ma. jor buildings being set on fire. This factory specialized in locomotive production before the war, and was believed to have been turning out components for torpedoes.
 Nearly 1000 American planes, more than 800 of them Flying Fort. resses or tiberators, were believed literally to have oblitetated the main objective at Berlin, 0 plant that turned out 05 per cent of Ger. fnany's bail bearings, yesterday. More than 1900 tons Of bombs were dropped in the attack.
 Though German censorship clAHnped down tightly on neutral correspondents in Berlin, the Stock. holm Morgontidningen reported from Bern that hundreds Of fires were kindled by the 36O,O00 ificen. diary and 10000 explosive bombs dropped by the raiders.
 Complete Ruin
 The Erkner district, l6 miles east southeast of the center of Berlin and site of the wrecked ball bearing plant. was reduced to complete ruin" Morgontidningen said. An