BASES ATTACKED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 253, 7 August 1941, Page 5

BASES ATTACKED.

FLEET AIR ARM AND NAVY.

FIRES STARTED !N SARDINIA.

LONDON, August 6

Naval units and aircraft of the Fleet Air Ann co-operated in a brilliant attack on enemy bases in Sardinia.

Taking off from H.M.S. Ark Royal, 'Swordfish aircraft attacked the seaplane base at Alghero in the portli-west of the island. They were guided by fires started by destroyers and their bombs set fire to hangars and a petrol dump, which we're left burning fiercely. In preparation for the attack, destroyers had earlier steamed into the harbours of Alghero and Tocanto, which are only a few miles apart and had bombarded the bases.

Describing the Mediterranean Fleet’s attack on Sardinian ports, an agency correspondent on board H.M.S. Ark Royal says : “Below me the flight deck —wider than an arterial road— is scarcely discernible. It is 3 a.m. The night air is sounding with the bum of v aeroplane engines, their bomb racks full, for ijhe Gibraltar force under Admiral Somerville is on tho offensive. In fact, the offensive has already begun, for three-quarters of an hour ago there was a luminous reflection in tho sky far away over the coast of North Sardinia. It came from starshells by destroyers sent in to bomturd the seaplane base at Alghero, and the shipping in the harbour there.. “Now our bombers are to follow, and four tons of bombs beneath their wings are destined for Alghero aerodrome. Zero hour is near and the crews, are already in the aircraft. A few minutes ago, wearing their flying suits and lifebelts, the pilots and observers, under carefully-shaded lights in the Air Intelligence Department were ' receiving tlieir final instructions for the raid.

The hum of the engines increases with a shattering crescendo, and suddenly the flight deck is picked out in tiny points of light. They match the stars in the dark sky. Cunningly devisetl, they cast no radiance to the sky to advertise our presence to possible lurking U-boats, but give the minimum guiding light for.a safe takeoff.

“The deck vibrates as the first bomber thunders forward. Its shadowy outline seems terribly menacing. As it passes the bridge the orange glow oi the exhaust illuminates a few feet of the fuselage and a flurry of red sparks swirl’ madly in the wind before they vanish. The centre row of safety lights disappears for an instant and we know the bomber is in the air. "Within a few imputes all are away.