U.S. engineers plant mines on Western front. U.S.

U.S. engineers plant mines on Western front. U.S. Army engineers carry mines over a snow-covered field near Monschau, as an area is mined to protect positions taken by American riflemen waiting to meet the Nazi counter-thrust opened December 16, 1944. Both American and enemy artillery fire has been heavy in the Monschaun area where the Americans were reported, December 24 to be repelling Nazi attacks against their positions. Clear weather at the close of the first week of the German counter-thrust allowed Allied aircraft to come to the support of U.s. ground forces. More than 2,000 Eight U.S. Air Force heavy bombers, escorted by more than 900 fighters, attacked 11 Luftwaffe airdromes in the Frankfurt area December 24, as well as enemy communications and supply centers. Officially described as the greatest air armada over launched by any air force, the American aircraft formed a column 400 miles long. As the last bombers left the English coast, the first were entering Germany.