European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1962, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A i. First army my reads sign Hung out by 9th army div gis. Lieutenant checks up across Bridge shortly before i John w. Mime came Back. American troops Rescue one who jumped when Bridge fell. American troop Aronino the Bridge into Tunnel on  Bank. Eur for City Hall and one of of German civilian and soldiers in a Tunnel at the Eastern end of really knows. There was too i be worked with a lot Fob the subject and nobody germans think the Bridge defend traitors who deliberately failed the Bridge the cause of the initial failure j did collapse 10 Days later carry americans to their deaths. Immediately claimed that the did the Job. This was disputed is being disputed reunion Bratge said there were of the collapse 1 american bombing two months earlier and 2 Over use. In december 1944 and january 1945 american bombers scored several hits on the Bridge and it was out of service for two weeks he said. During the night of March 6 and up to noon March 7, seven or eight trains and a steady Stream of retreating German vehicles went Over the already weakened Bridge. Then after the americans captured  sent heavy tanks Over it Bratge said. No German bombs hit the Bridge Bratge said flatly. The nearest German v2 hit 200 Yards from  uj3. Air Force s sgt Ray b. Smith 37. Of Charlotte n.c., then am army gunner with the 563 aaa in at the Bridge they the Luftwaffe never bombed  was too much ack ack. No German artillery fire hit it it collapsed because it was remodeler. The engineers put heavy planking Over the mils and removed some of the supports. It wus a Case of a rail Bridge being converted to a vehicle Bridge and it just could t stand the  Smith now is with the 50th tactical fighter Wing at harm air base Ger Many. Sgt Mai John w. Homes of Oregon ib., now a brigade sergeant major with the24th inf div. Then a combat photographer. All those heavy vehicles going Over it d old it it never was intended for that Typ of traffic. Of course it waa already weak ened. Three divisions is a lot of people. They were walking across it in broken  it col Robert m. Dill commanding officer of the Petroleum distribution come at we Brucken Germany and then member of the 9th army div to a recent letter to the Stan and is rips declared the Bridge fell of its own Accord while the 276th engr in was repairing to truss which had been damaged when the Ger mans attempted to blow up the  the Bridge fell on March 17. Its last 10 Days were its most glorious. Ironically. It was named after Gen Erich Ludendorff German s master strategist Al world War i. And More ironically the Granite twin towers All that remain of the Bridge a Remagen now Are a Loveras try Sung place. The stars and stripes