LUFTWAFFE NOW AGGRESSIVE

Southland Times, Issue 25550, 19 December 1944, Page 5

LUFTWAFFE NOW AGGRESSIVE

Vicious Air Battles Over Germany (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 18. Vicious air battles are being fought out over Germany this afternoon as the Luftwaffe puts up its strongest opposition of the campaign, says Reuter’s correspondent with the United States 9th Army. Thunderbolts have already destroyed 13 and damaged two enemy planes. Dogfights are still going on and returning pilots are reporting more successes. The contest began shortly before noon when 40 or 50 enemy fighters were engaged by Thunderbolts who soon accounted for 10 Focke-Wulf 190’s and three Messerschmitt 109’s. The Luftwaffe last night also made its biggest night bomber effort of the campaign. The Germans employed more bombers in scattered raids, lasting practically from dusk to dawn, than they have previously ventured to put into any sky at any stage. The enemy planes included jet-propelled machines. FOOLHARDY COMBATS The Germans had obviously saved up all their aerial resources for the present offensive. One of the most outstanding features is the fact that German pilots are actually choosing to give combat when outnumbered. Two Messerschmitts attacked six Thunderbolts, while a single Focke-Wulf challenged 12 American fighters. This is unprecedented in this campaign. One officer said. that the Germans are more aggressive than they have been for three months.

HEROISM OF BOMBER PILOT

Highest American Award For Bravery (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 18. First Lieutenant Edward Michael, a Flying Fortress pilot from Arizona, has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour, America’s equivalent to the Victoria Cross, for heroism on a bombing mission over Germany on March 11. Although drenched in blood from his wounds, Lieutenant Michael succoured a wounded gunner and brought his Fortress back to base. One hundred German fighters, for 45 minutes, ripped the Fortress from nose to tail, and set it on fire during the attack on an. industrial target in Germany. A cannon shell exploded in the cockpit, severely wounding Michael in the right thigh, and temporarily blinding him. Nevertheless, the copilot pulled the bomber out of the dive. The top-turret gunner appeared in the cockpit, blood gushing from wounds in the head. Disregarding his own bleeding leg, Michael assisted the gunner to the escape hatch, where the gunner and seven other members of the crew baled out on Michael’s order. Michael decided to stay in the plane in an effort to save the bombardier’s life. With the co-pilot, he zig-zagged at treetop level across France and brought the bomber home.

GERMANS TRAPPED IN DUNKIRK

“Crazy, Dead Sort Of War” (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 18. Dunkirk has settled in for the winter and may not be avenged until the end of the war. The Germans are cosy in the town’s best billets, while outside the British troops are drawing lots for leave. „ , , For a week the Allies have been firing shells and mortars into the town. An occasional prisoner is taken and a few Germans desert, but nothing extensive has thus far been done to wipe out the memory of 1940. It is a crazy, dead sort of war here. The Germans capnot use the port and the Allies need not waste men and weapons in mounting a major offensive that would have little strategical advantage. However, we must have a force in front of Dunkirk to contain the Germans.