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USAAF Causes Vast Damage In Trip Almost to Red Front(Continued from page 1)blows only about 400 miles from the fighting front*Effectively splitting German fighter defenses as the force roared toward multiple objectives, the big bombers dropped heavy loads on harbor installations and docks at Gdynia, which are now used extensively by the German navy, and also on submarine slips and the shipbuilding yard at the former free city of Danzig, which is actively engaged in the construction of U-boats.The third objective of the precision blow was Arado Flugzeugwerke, at Anklam in northeastern Germany near Stettin, formerly the chief manufacturers of standard aircraft for the German air force, but now engaged in turning out vital pans for German fighters.FW Plant Hard HitPictures taken during -the Marienburg attack show the aircraft factory completely blanketed by bursting bombs. A number of aircraft on the ground were destroyed, Bomber Command headquarters said. The plant is believed to have accounted for approximately one-half of all assembly of FW190s.Reconnaissance photographs made after the Anklam attack show a number of buildings burning furiously, and almost every important building in the plant, which made parts for the FWl90s, was hit. One fire was sending up a 10,000-foot column of smoke, a reconnaissance pilot reported.At Gdynia, now a major German naval base, photographs made after the attack showed the Stuttgart burning fiercely and being towed from its berth, apparently to prevent the fir“from spreading. Three other ships were left burning and an armed merchant vessel appeared partially submerged.The forma lions* which attacked Gdynia and Danzig, encountered little enemy opposition, one group completing its bombing run and returning as far as the North Sea before it met a small group of Me 11 Os which were beaten off in shor.t order, returning crewmen reported.But on the Anklam attack, crews reported the formations had rip-roaring air battles with all types of German fighters numbering between 100 and 200. Many, were equipped with four rocket guns—two under each wing.Brig. Gen. Robert F. Travis, ofSavannah, Ga., who led the formation attacking Anklam, said:‘‘This is the best show I have ever seen.I don't even need to check the pictures. As we crossed the coast about 15 enemy fighters flew alongside us for five minutes* We didn't know if they would attack us oi not. Finally they did, and the leaders of their formation really pressed home the attack, coming right through out formation.“We dropped our bombs in a beautiful pattern, and there wasn't one bomb that fell outside the target area. As we turned I saw two enemy fighters hit at the same time, and watched them hit the ground together.“We* had p great many attacks all the way out from single and twin-engined fighters. 1 don’t know how' many fighters we ran into all together but it was well over 300.”Running air battles all the way to the Pomeranian plant and part of the way back, lasting the better of two hours, failed to keep the formations from the target. In the words of Lt. Col. Robert U. Burns, of Ecrum, Miss., who led the groups: “We really blasted the target with perfect pattern.”Formations which struck Danzig and Gdynia were confronted by a great smoke screen thrown up by German destroyers which dashed about the harbors in a desperate effort to protect the installations and ships.With the long flight to Poland effectively accomplished, there arose the possibility that daylight raids on .Berlin might soon occupy the .Eighth Air Force since the German capital is considerably, less distant from Britain than the Polish' targets.Almost to Red FrontA classic remark by returning crewmen, I most of whom were well aware the raid ! took them within fairly close range of the battling Russian armies of the Dnieper, came from Lt. Joe W. Kane, of Lyn-brook, L.I., N.Y., who said with his tongue in his cheek: “I was surprised Russian fighter support didn't show up.” lt was a long, tiresome ten-hour haul for groups that went to Danzig-Gdynia, and crews stocked up with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which they ate on the way back.Fortresses in battering the giant Focke-Lindell in right. Kurowski lined to Gordon. No runs, one hit, no errors.Fifth InningNEW YORK—LindcII fanned swinging. Russo doubled to right. Stamback fouled to Sanders. Crosciti struck out. No runs, one hit, no errors.ST. LOUIS—Sanders fanned. Litwhiler fouled to Etten. Marion singled to left. Lanier bounced out, Russo to Etten. No runs, one hit, no errors.Sixth InningNEW YORK—Johnson grounded out, Klein to Sanders. Keller fanned. Gordon Hied to Walker. No runs, no hits, no errors.ST. LOUIS—Klein bounced out, Russo to Etten. WaJkcr grounded out, Gordon to Etten. Mtisial grounded out, Gordon to Etten. No runs, no hits, no errors.Seventh InningNEW YORK—’Dickey flied out to Litwhiler in [ left. Etten grounded out, Klein to Sanders. ; LindcII popped out to Kurowski. No runs, no 1 hits, no errors.ST. LOUIS—Cooper flied to Keller. Kurowski bounced out. Johnson to Etten. Sanders reached first when Crosetti dropped his pop fly. Lit- ; whilcr s grounder hit the bag at first and rolled into right field for a double. Sanders stopped at third- Marion was intentionally passed. Dcmarec batted for Lanier and bounced to Johnson, who fumbled. Sanders scoring. Ernie White ran for Demaree. Klein forced White at second. Gordon to Crosetti. One run, one hit. two errors.Eighth InningNEW YORK—Southpaw Harry Brecbecn went on the mound for the Cardinals. Russo doubled to left. Stainback sacrificed Russo to third. Brechcen to Sanders. Crosetti flied to Walker in center, scoring Russo. Johnson bounced out. Marion to Sanders. One run. one hit, no errors.ST. LOUIS-r-Walkcr grounded out. Gordon to Etten. Musial beat out an infield single. Cooper beat out an infield hit back of second. Kurowski flied out to Keller against the left field wall. Sanders grounded to Gordon, who threw to Crosetti at second. Cooper beat the throw, but overslid the bag and was tagged out. No runs, two hits, i no errors.Ninth InningNEW YORK—Keller singled to right. Gordon struck out and Keller stole second. Dickey was intentionally passed. Etten bounced to Sanders. LindcII was intentionally passed. Russo struck out. No. runs, one hit. no errors.ST. LOUIS—Litwhiler grounded out. Crosetti to Etten. Marion doubled to left. Narron batted for Brecheen and bounced out, Crosetti to Etten. Klein flied to Stainback. No runs, one hit, no errors.Wulf plant at Marienburg in East Prussia, which has been assembling 50 per cent of Germany’s fighter planes, caught the Luftwaffe by surprise.Eighth Air Force announced late last night that yesterday’s target of the heavy bombers was Munster, in Germany. Escorting P47s, the preliminary announcement said, destroyed 2d enemy fighters for the loss of two Thunderbolts.Great Fighter OppositionVeterans of the Regensburg and Schweinfuri raids—who helped to shoot down the highest single day’s total of enemy planes—reported more fighters opposing the U.S. bomber formations yesterday than ever before.The Luftwaffe sent up everything it had, gunners reported, with Ju88s, F\V190s, Me 109s, 110s and 210s striking at the bombers for an hour and a half.
Newspaper Details
London Stars and Stripes
London, Middlesex, GB
Mon, Oct 11, 1943
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Cami K.
USA 20 Nov 2023
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