1,500 U.S. bombers hit rocket coast
Oil refineries and war plants in Germany also attacked robot bombs continue to fall in southern England
SHAEF, London, England (AP) –
More than 1,000 U.S. heavy bombers, possible the greatest force in history, today simultaneously attacked rocket-bomb platforms in the Pas-de-Calais and an array of objectives in central Germany ranging from oil refineries to airplane and tank plants.
The giant armada equaled if it did not surpass that sent out last Wednesday to attack French airfields, bridges and the Emmerich oil refinery in Germany.
With its big fighter escort, the entire sky fleet totaled upward of 2,000 planes.
The heavy bombers blasted synthetic oil plants and oil refineries around Hanover, Hamburg, Magdeburg and Politz, a tank depot near Magdeburg, and an airplane wing repair and parts plant near Brunswick.
The Germans reported the U.S. fleet was attacked by large formations of fighters and that heavy air battles were fought.
16 land in Sweden
Stockholm reported 16 of the heavy bombers made forced landings at the Malmö Airport.
Returning crewmen said they found clear weather over Germany but were forced to bomb through a cloud cover over the Pas-de-Calais. Today’s giant operation took a part of the fleet more than 550 miles, almost to the Polish border to hit Politz, about 10 miles north of the Baltic seaport of Stettin in far eastern Germany.
While the U.S. bomber and fighting fleet was coursing across Europe and smashing again at the ramps from which Germany’s rocket-bombs are launched, lighter Allied aerial forces swarmed across the Channel in improving weather and renewed the harassment of German forces in Normandy.
Today’s bomber formation was the fifth force of more than 1,000 heavyweights the U.S. Air Force has sent out since D-Day.
The big assault was the third within 24 hours against the Pas-de-Calais area from which rocket bombs continue to stream into southern England today.
The Germans put up a heavy flak barrage over the Pas-de-Calais in defense of their rocket installations.
Luftwaffe grounded
The German Air Force hugged the ground yesterday and last night, however. There were no reports of a German plane being shot down during that period. Allied losses were three heavy bombers, two mediums and 15 fighters – all victims of anti-aircraft fire.
Sharpshooting anti-aircraft gunners and relays of swooping fighter pilots blasted dozens of Nazi robot planes out of the sky overnight and the Allies appeared to be getting the range on this new weapon today, the sixth of the “buzzbomb” blitz.
The Germans tried a handful of comet bombs June 13, but did not set the sustained attacked going until June 15.
In one district alone, four flying bombs were shot down by night fighters within a few minutes. Three exploded in the air in quick succession.
The Germans were launching the robots in no particular order. Sometimes as many as five came over almost together.
In daylight today, the Germans kept winging the one-ton bombs into England at sporadic intervals. The British Air Ministry announced that new and secret measures were being taken to wipe out the cross-Channel attacks.
Home folks warned
As flying-bomb delirium swept Germany, there were indications of increasing uneasiness among Nazi propagandists that the German population was due for a tremendous letdown.
In extolling the new weapon and giving elaborate reports of panic in London, German broadcasters voiced frequent cautions against expecting too much.
Dispatches from some neutral countries reported many Germans now believe Germany will win in Western Europe within the next few weeks and they are singing the “We Are Sailing Against England” song again.
“Please don’t believe in miracles,” warned a Berlin radio political spokesman, Dr. Scharping. “Hard trials are still ahead.”