Evening star., 1950-08-16
Reds sReported Fleeing
After B-29s Strike
Heavy Blow on Troops
Continued From First Page0

respondent, reported one paGTOl
prowled through the area west
and south of Waegwan for two
hours without encountering any
sizeable force of Reds.
The patrol was led by 1t.
Charles Rogers of MorriSville, Pa
Two observation pilots, Capt.
Irving S. Coryell of Atlanta and
1t. William Turner of Dallas, saw
Red troops Splashing back across
the river from positions on the
allied east side that had not been
bombed.
Mai. Gen. Earle E. Partridge,
United States 5th Air Force COM
mander, few low over the tortured
hills. He reported seeing a small
group of North Koreans running
from the area.
Capt. Coryell said the Red
troops seemed to be in a state OF
complete confusion. Those spotted
by 1t. Turner appeared dazed and
demoralized.
Reds Appear Frightened.
Left Erickson, Associated Press
correspondent. reported the enemy
troops, displaying obvious fright
ut the sight of any plane, took
cover when the two small, un-
armed observation planes few low
over them after the big raid. No
shot was fired at the observers.
Two explosions sent columns OF
water geysering into the air at
the point on the Naktong where
the North Koreans had construct
ed an underwater RuSsian-type
tank bridge. The bridge also had
been used to move Red artillery
to the Allied east bank.
The American flyers were unable
to tell whether the explosions were
from American shells or whether
the North Koreans were exploding
demolition charges, Mr.. Erickson
reported.
Both pilots said North Koreans
fled without their packs or rifles.
They were about four miles west
of the river when the American
airmen spotted them. They were
running north, south and west.
Mr.. Erickson said the pilots had
been sent over the river area
hunting for seven camouhaged
North Korean tanks near the west
bank.
Five of the seven tanks were
knocked out, they reported, but
not as a result of the big B-29
raid.
The airmen said they were un-
able to find any trace of Red
armored column previously re-
ported partly concealed on the
west side of the river.
The two observer pilots flew
low trying to find the column.
Where there had been medium
heavy anti-aircraft fire in the
past, the American flyers en-
countered no ack-ack.
In World War II the American
Air Force delivered three similar
massive blows but not with B-29S.
Smaller four-engine bomberS-
Bits and B-24s were used nor
mally only for strategic bombing
of fixed targetS-went in low
against German infantry divisions
at Salerno, Monte Casino and st.
Lo in Normandy.
Attacks Paralyzed Germans.
At Salerno and st. Lo the at
tacks paralyzed the Germans to
such degree they were unable to
halt the Allied infantry attacks
soon afterward. Saturation bomb
ing of German parachute troopers
at Monte Casino did not achieve
Its purpose.
The massive air strike was the
only big activity reported from
the whole Korean war front.
There was a lull in all other
sectors.
Last night the Communists had
put a force of two or three bat
talions across the Naktong at Hy-
onpong, IL miles southwest Of
Taegu, the South Korean repub-
lies emergency capital.
The fighting slowed in the Red
Changnyong bridgehead, % miles
southwest of Taegu, where the
United States oath Infantry Di-
vision has been attacking and
fighting off counter attacks.
Farther north the United States
1st Cavalry Division repelled an
assault at TukSong.
Red Company Surrounded.
United States 1St Cavalrymen
had a company of North Koreans
surrounded on a hill 9 miles north
west of Taegu.
But Allied commanders were |
more Immediately interested in
results of the B-29 blow. They
sent American ground patrols into
the smoking, blazing area across
the river-to it's west side-to see
the extent of damage done to the
enemy striking power.
Smoke clouds and silence
shrouded the bombed sector.
Villages, enemy equipment and |
trees cracked in flames hours |
after the big raid.
The B-29 bombing pattern |
called for 145 all-purpose 500
pound bombs to be dropped in
each square mile of a 26-square-
mile area.
A general staff officer at head
quarters had said the Red Waeg-