The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-07
GREAT AERIAL STROKE
Powerful American Attack
Is Made Upon Berlin
With Good Results

LONDON, March g. R -Divi-
sions Of heavily escorted U. s..
bombers made a powerful attack
through fierce fighter opposition
and a black wall of anti-aircraft
fire upon Berlin with good results
today, but suffered a record loss
of 68 bombers, it was announced
tonight.
Eleven planes Of the hundreds
of American Mustangs, Lightnings
and Thunderbolts and. Raj Mus
tangs which escorted and support
ed the great rorce. Of Flying For
tresses and Liberators on this Sec
o1d American assault at the CAPT.
tai of the Reich were lost.
Spectacular Battle
During the spectacular aerial
battle which spread across Ger.
many, the Allied fighters shot
down 83 German planes. The
bombers also destroyed at least
40 others for a total of at least
1AO, UQL tIlS CAdCt l1Q141EC1 WdS 41Ol
yet known.
The communique said, "resist.
ance from enemy fighters was en-
countered throughout the trip"
There was every indication that
this new blow at Berlin was one Of
the most terrible and effective ye
leveled at the German capital.
Divisions of Bombers
The announcement said "divi.
sions of heavy bombers in great
strength, escorted by very large
formation of fighters, attacked fac.
tories, airfields and other military
installations in the metropolitan
district of Berlin with good re-
sults.''
An American air division nor
mally numbers from 420 to 73(
planes. One U. S. pilot tonight est
mated that between 300 and 90(
U. S. planes participated in. the
mighty daylight raid.
Unlike Saturdays thrust at Der
lin by one formation of Flying
Fortresses, the latest operation
found the Nazi air force lying il
wait for an about effort to repe
the attack and the battle that re
suited was perhaps the creates
aerial fight in history.
Record Is Set
A record for enemy planes sho
down by fighters was established
as well as new mark in U.
losses. Previously the highest tol
paid in an American operatio,
over Europe had been 60 bomb
ers,-first in an attack on Schwein
furt last Oct. | and again in
smash at Brunswick Jan. II. Tn
record number of enemy plane
shot down by fighters was 81 o.
Feb. 20.
Even while the report on tn
tremendous daylight stab was be
ing made there were indication
that Berlin might be a target agai
tonight for Raj night raiders.
Communication Cut
Telephone communication be
tween the German capital an
Stockholm was suspended, variou
continental radio stations left tn
air and one, at Frankfurt, warne
that enemy aircraft are circlin
over our town.
Travellers reaching Sweden sal
the American attack was delivere
between l and 8 pm. and col
centrated on the northern an
eastern sections of Berlin. On
bomb, they said dropped on Ten
plehof airdrome.
The Germans themselves az
knowledged that the raid was mad
in great force and claimed in
radio broadcast to have shot dow
: 1875 planes, mostly fou7-engine
bombers.
The U. S. communique said thu
; it had been impossible to ascertai
yet the number of German plane
shot down by American bomber
but added, lone division alone d.
stroyed at least 49,"
; This announcement said that tt
escort consisted of hundreds
{ fighters of both the Eighth ar
Continued on Page Three; Col.
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