Smashing Attack On Regensburg Fighter Centre

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1944, Page 3

Smashing Attack On Regensburg Fighter Centre

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 25. The air battle to smash the Germans’ air strength rose to a new height today when one of the greatest raids of the war was made on Regensburg, one of Germany’s biggest fighter production centres, says the aviation correspondent of the British United Press. Bombers flying over 10 hours from Britain struck against two plants— Prufening, in the western suburbs of Regensburg, making fighter components. and Obertrauling, five miles west of Regensburg, formerly assembling Messerschmitt transport. The two plants constitute Germany’s most important fighter production centre. The plants were heavily damaged by Fortresses. The first report that the attack today was a double thrust from Britain and the Mediterranean, came from Berlin radio, which indicated that bombers flew over Germany from the north and south. Wellingtons from the Mediterranean area, attacking an Austrian target for the first time, bombed Steyr, which was stiff smoking from an earlier Fortress attack. Berlin radio again reported fierce air combats over the Alps, where the radio claimed that strong fighter forces intercepted bomber forces, and added that bombers eluding the interceptors headed for the Danube. Rome radio announced that both Fiume and Tivoli, in Italy, were bombed today. Messerschmitt Works Hit

The U.S.A.A.F. announces that in addition to Regensburg and Stuttgart, Eighth A.A.F. heavy bombers today also attacked the Messerschmitt assembly centre and experimental station at Augsburg and a major airframe components factory at Furth. Bombing results were good. The 15th A.A.F. from Italy joined in the attack against Regensburg in the third co-ordinated assault in four days against Germany from the west and south. The bombers were escorted and supported by large forces of Eighth A.A.F. fighters, also Ninth A.A.F., R.A.F., Dominion and Allied fighters. Fighters shot down 27 enemy aircraft for the loss of three. Thirty-one Eighth A.A.F. bombers are missing. Berlin radio announced that British bombers were again over Southern Germany tonight. The United States Strategic Air Forces announce that 156 enemy air-i craft were destroyed by bombers and fighters of the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces and fighters of the Ninth Air Force, in air battles over Germany on/-Thursday. Heavy bombers based on England destroyed 83, and fighters 37. The Fifteenth Air Force in joint operations from Italy shot down 35 fighters.