Evening star., 1944-04-11
Targets in Reich
Raidedby1,000
). Bombers
Some Penetrate to
Berlin in Heavy
Attack, Nozis Soy
BULLETIN.

LONDON R).-The RAF
dropped more than 1000 tons
OF bombs on European targets
last night, the greatest load
for a single night on record, it
was disclosed today.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, April 11.-Nearly
l 900 Liberators and Fortresses
today attacked aircraft plants at
OscherSleben and Bernburg and
other targets near Leipzig
southwest of Berlin, United
States Air Force headquarters
announced.
Fighter escort in very great
strength came from Thunderbolts
Mustangs and Lightnings," the an
nouncement said, indicating prob
ably $500 planes participated in the
attacks.
The first returning crewmen said
they obtained good results, bombing
mostly in clear weather. Some OF
them reported encountering fighter
opposition, but none described it as
particularly heavy. They said the
strong American escort took good
care" of the Germans.
Nazis Not Good Enough"
1T looked to me as if the Ger
mans had their first team-the
Goering boys-up today" said 1t
Col. Paul T. Burton, New York City
command pilot who few as a Lib
orator co-pilot. They were good
but not good enough and there were
not enough Of them to stop u.s."
Give American heavy bomb
ers made forced landings in
Sweden and six crewmen para
chuted from another American
pane after it apparently had
been hit by antiaircraft fire, the
Stockholm Aftonbladet reported.
A German plane believed to be a
fighter was shot down in flames
and Its crew killed near Skovde
when Swedish gunners opened
fire as it few at low altitude.
Since Easter total of Is Ameri-
can pombers have landed in
Sweden.)
The Berlin radio said violent all
battles were precipitated, extending
to the Baltic coast. The Germans
said Hanover and Brunswick were
among the targets and that some
planes penetrated to Berlin.
The assaults rounded out so hours
OF almost continuous attack ir
which an estimated 1000 tons Of
bombs descended on at least % Naz
rail centers, aircraft factories anc
airdromes.
Heavy Casualties Claimed.
The Berlin radio said the Ameri.
cans dropped bombs on Central Ger.
many and asserted the raiders suf
fered heavy casualties in widespread
operations over Central and Eastern
Germany. Formations leaving Reich
territory were being harassed by
German fighters, the broadcast said
Today's raids came as a followur
to a 900-plane RAF assault las
night on railway targets in France
and Belgium.
The Lancasters and Halifaxe,
making the night assault were dis
closed authoritatively to have com.
prised the largest British armada
ever sent against occupied territory
The main targets, an Air Ministry
communique said, were railwa,
yards at Client, Tours, Tergnier
Aulnoye and Laon in Northern
France and Belgium
Squadrons of Mosquito bomber
thrust simultaneously into Western
Germany to bomb Hanover and OBJ
jectives in the Ruhr. Mines alst
were laid in enemy waters durin,
the night operations, from which 2.
planes failed to return, the bulle.
tin said.
Second Successive Attack.
1t was the second successive Brit.
lsh night attack on objectives in oc.
cupled territory, the RATS biz
bombers having blasted railwa,
yards on the outskirts of Paris anc
at Lille the preceding night.
Approximately 1900 American
planes were estimated to have ta
ken part yesterday in attacks OF
targets along the French-B Belgian
coast and in the French interior
during which Marauder medium
hombers of the United States 9ti
Air Force dropped their bigges
bomb load-mcre than 1000 tons
approximately 1900 American
planes were estimated to have taker
part yesterday in attacks on target,
along the French Belgian coast ant
IN the French interior, during which
Marauder medium bomberS of tn
United States 9th Air Force dropped
their biggest bomb load-more thar
| 1000 tons.
Headquarters here announced ;
flnal tabulation of the American al
victories showed the bombers ant
fighters doWned Is planes whil
many additional enemy planes wer
destroyed or damaged on tn
ground. Three bombers and fou
fighters were lost in the attack OF
four airfelds, three repair work
and an assembly plant.
The main target Of the Marauder
900 were out during the day-Wa
the Namur railway yards 35 mile
southeast of Brussels
IIleo ~ po.e,~ C