1,000 Flying Fortresses pound Munich for 3rd day
Saarbrücken, on French-German border, also hit as Allies push air blitz
London, England (UP) –
A fleet of more than 1,000 U.S. heavy bombers accompanied by 500 or more fighter planes smashed through feeble opposition from the Luftwaffe today to bomb the Munich area for the third successive day and Saarbrücken on the French border.
Other U.S. heavy bombers, meanwhile, roared up from southern Italy to attack two oil storage installations in German-occupied northern Italy and four railway yards between Milan and Venice.
In the Munich attack, a force of German fighters estimated at 125 planes rose to harass the huge fleet of Flying Fortresses and Liberators.
Third day of attack
For the most part, they confined their activities to flash attacks on the bomber formation, making quick passes at the Fortresses with guns blazing.
The three-day intense bombing of Munich gave rise to the possibility that the Americans were after a specific target, probably the city’s aero engine works, at least one of which is known to be turning out new model engines.
Whether they are the robot bomb’s jet-propelled motors was a matter of speculation.
‘Not a retaliation’
A high Air Force officer said today the Munich bombing, during which the city has received nearly 10,000 tons of bombs, was definitely part of the strategic air pattern and “not in any sense a retaliation for the robot attacks.”
Munich, like Saarbrücken, is also an important rail hub for movement of troops and supplies.
The Luftwaffe attacks came after the bombers had turned back from Munich, where they encountered a heavy barrage of flak.
The Air Ministry announced today that the RAF Bomber Command had dispatched 1,300 aircraft, all in the six-hour period between 8:00 p.m. last night and 2:00 a.m. today, against flying bomb installations on the French coast, industrial targets in the Ruhr, and railways in France.
Yesterday’s raid on Munich was the largest attack on a single target of the war by U.S. bombers, with over 1,200 Flying Fortresses and Liberators and 750 escorting fighters taking part.
Nine Germans downed
Normandy-based fighters closely supported the ground forces yesterday, dropping bombs and rockets on German convoys, occupied buildings, armored vehicles and a tank repair depot.
At one point, the Allied planes at the request of the Army attacked and silenced several gun emplacements and mortars.
Despite the inclement weather, Supreme Headquarters said that at least nine German planes were destroyed in combat yesterday.
It was announced that since D-Day, the Allied Air Forces have attacked 313 bridges in France, including 144 railroad, 97 highway and 72 river bridges; 193 rail centers and 96 airfields.