Imperial Valley Press

Fire Friedrichshafen, Munich from Italy and Britain Main Bases:
Plaster Bucharest, on to Belgrade

LONDON, April 24. (UP)—An estimated 3,000 American warplanes swarmed over Europe Monday in mighty processions paced by four-engined bombers which struck heavy blows at Munich and Friedrichshafen in Germany, Bucharest and Ploesti in Romania, and the Yugoslav capital of Belgrade.

The five-pronged main assault by United States air forces striking from Britain and Italy carried the unbroken preinvasion offensive against the continent through its eighth straight day, and probably to a new peak of intensity.

About 1,000 Flying Fortresses and Liberators based in Britain hit German aircraft factories at Friedrichshafen and airdromes around Munich. Up to 750 of the big bombers lashed out from Italy at rail yards in Bucharest and Ploesti and key targets in Belgrade.

MEET RESISTANCE

The bombing fleets were escorted by powerful forces of fighter planes, and early reports indicated that resistance was encountered over both Germany and the Balkans.

Swiss dispatches reported U. S. bombers crashing in flames and said at least 10 landed in Switzerland.

While “very strong forces” of heavy bombers were striking at southwest Germany, Forts and Liberators of the 15th air force “in great strength” swept over the Balkans for a three-way assault on transport centers vital to the German war effort.

Returning to Bucharest for the third time in 10 days, Liberators attacked the main rail yards of the Romanian capital in clear weather.

Fortresses swung northward to the Romanian oil center of Ploesti and hit the rail yards there for the fifth time.

Other Fortresses attacked the Ikarus aircraft factory at Belgrade.

The first returning crewmen reported considerable success in the broadside attack on Axis communications and war factories. Tentative accounts credited both the gunners and their escorts with downing numbers of enemy fighters.

Long after the announcement of the attacks on Friedrichshafen and Munich, coastal observers reported intense air activity continuing over the channel. One said “it can be likened to a vast train service running to schedule.”

Swiss dispatches described the bombardment of Friedrichshafen as “tremendous” and said the explosions broke windows across Lake Constance in Switzerland.

Again the powerful daylight assault was concentrated on the sources and facilities of the German air force. An official week-end statement said German air reserves already had been cut to a “mere trickle” and that the campaign against it now was in its “climactic phase.”

Friedrichshafen, on the northern shore of Lake Constance, and Munich, cradle of the Nazi party 100 miles to the northeast, are two of the main aircraft centers in southwest Germany.

Dispatch from the Swiss frontier across from Friedrichshafen said the U. S. bombers poured explosives on the town and nearby areas for 20 minutes shortly after noon.

Four big fires were started in the area of Friedrichshafen, the pre-war zeppelin center, the Swiss said, and three columns of smoke rose.