Heaviest Attack In Air History

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 64, 16 March 1944, Page 5

Heaviest Attack In Air History

CASSINO PULVERISED

1400 Tons Of Bombs In Area A Mile Square

(N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.— Rec. noon.)

I TL r . c , . , LONDON, March 15. • The f ,™ A f r , my to " da y launched another offensive at Cass.no following the most concentrated bombing operation in history. Reuters correspondent at advanced headquarters says the & H ,.r eight ° f the u Strate g lc *l and Tactical Air Forces of the Mediterranean was thrown against the stronghold of Cassino when they dropped 1 400 tons of bombs in an area only one mile square. lne air attack began at dawn and ended at noon It was aimed at preparing the way for the ground forces. Fortresses, Liberators, Mitchells, Marauders and Bostons flew to the target in waves and dumped their bombs, then returned to their base to reload and continue the shuttle attack. They encountered no fighters or flak. The air attack is officially described as "a bombing operation unsurpassed in the history of warfare. Wave after wave of all types of aircraft roared relentlessly over the bastion. It was the smallest area ever to feel the weight of so many bombs in such a short time." j The bombers, in the course of 3000 sorties, blasted the German defences, reducing their positions to rubble, after which ' the Allied artillery opened up a heavy barrage. A strong infantry attack then followed.

Reuters says the weight of the air attack showed that the Allies this time are determined to smash through the Cassino positions towards Liri Valley and Rome.

It is officially stated that this large-scale air effort was part of a co-ordinated plan. "British and American artillery immediately after the cessation of the bombing opened up and our infantry pressed forward, exerting the maximum pressure against the enemy in this area," it was stated. To Reduce Every Building In Cassino Was Aim Reports from the Mediterranean air bases show that nearly every type of plane, from Fortresses to Spitfires and dive-bombers, including veteran R.A.F. fighter and fighter-bombers from the desert Air Force, participated in the offensive. Their objective was to destroy every building in Cassino and reduce to rubble the ancient stone walls concealing countless German guns. One bomber group is reported to have attached whistling devices to as many of their bombs as possible in order to "see how the Germans like being on the receiving end of screamers." The Exchange Telegraph Company correspondent says that Allied air forces simultaneously dropped about the same weight of bombs on bridges and communication centres north and northwest of Cassino—places where the Germans might have attempted another Cassino-like stand. The British United Press correspondent states that the air onslaught established a record for the number of planes used in addition to the weight of bombs dropped. As"many of 72 heavy bombers simultaneously unloaded bombs on Cassino and over 500 planes were around the target at one time. A gigantic sheet of flame enveloped the southern part of the town before midday. A new huge pall of smoke rose up after every wave of bombers swept over the target. General Alexander and General Mark Clark both watched the great air attack. The Associated Press correspondent reports that to give the planes a free hand against Cassino the Allies last night quietly withdrew the troops who were holding about one-third of Cassino. British predominated among the infantry in action after to-day's bombing and barrage.