15/2/1944 1.= pm. Richard Wessel
Better weather in Italy has allowed the renewal
of our air offensive. Over 1500 sorties were
flown yesterday against 60 by the Germans.
21 enemy planes were destroyed and we
lost one plane. Our heavy bombers
attacked 5 important railway junctions
in Lombardy plain and mediums
railway targets a little South and also
the port of Leghorn. Our fighters kept up
the offensive patrols over the beachhead.
Pressure on the enemy was maintained
on the main fronts on the beachhead.
Positions have remained static for
3 days now. Hard fighting takes place
in and around Cassino. Yesterday we
fired leaflets into Monte Cassino in order
to warn the monks and refugees there that
the Allies could not any longer save
the historic building as the Germans
held to their gun positions there. News has
just reached us that a hundred Flying
Fortresses in 4 waves have bombed
Monte Cassino this morning. Our
planes were again active across the
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