U.S. BLITZ ON MUNSTER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 14, 12 October 1943, Page 5

U.S. BLITZ ON MUNSTER

Luftwaffe Loss Of 102 Fighters

DAYLIGHT ATTACK (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received October 11, 10 p.m.)

LONDON, October 10.

American headquarters announces that 102 German lighters were cliot down in today’s Fortress raids on western Germany. This is another setback for the German Air Force. The U.S.A.A.F. attacks against eastern Europe were port of a Europewide pattern, the North-west African Air Force striking against the Mediterranean and the European mainland, while British-based planes continued their poundings against western Europe. The latest blows struck by the Eighth Air Force today were against Munster and also rail installations at Koesfelt, in the German province of Westphalia, and an enemy airfield at Esehade, in Holland. The raid by Flying Fortresses against Munster today was one of the biggest air blows since tlie outbreak ot the war, says the British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Air Force. One pilot said: “I don t think we need hit Munster again.” The Flying Fortresses encountered strong opposition, and shot down 81 enemy lighters. Escorting Thunderbolts shot down 21 fighters. Thirty American bombers and two fighters are missing. The Press Association points out that this makes 410 enemy fighters destroyed by the Americans in the past eight days and 250 in the 48 hours beginning on Friday. It was the third succcsivc daylight attack on Germany by heavy bombers. I he Germans made desperate efforts to stop the Fortresses by using fighters and with a smoke-screen as the Fortresses got near their targets, but the plan miscarried,. tor the smoke blew in the wrong direction, and American crews saw their bombs. go down and wt>re satisfied that the aiming was deadly. General Faker, commanding the Eighth Air Force, declared: “We sent more than 400 lighting men- against German industrial targets on Friday and again day. More than 4000 fought through the German defences to destroy vital Nazi plane factories. We have only reached another ‘end of the beginning like the Eighth Army’s early victories in Atricn. The victories of the American Eighth Alt Force mark only the turning of the tide. The big push into Germany, when it came. would cost “ v es, just’as Salerno did. It was the task of the American Air Force to help destioy German factories and facilities so that the Allied casualties would be cut down. “That is our stern assignment this winter,”’ he said.