TERRIFIC DAYLIGHT RAID ON NAPLES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1943, Page 3

TERRIFIC DAYLIGHT RAID ON NAPLES

AMERICAN BOMBERS

Shipping, Airfield And Docks Smashed N.&. Press Association.-—Copyright Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, April 5. Nearly 100 Flying Fortresses participated in a daylight raid on Naples yesterday. It was the first raid against the Italian mainland by American bombers based on Tunisia and the heaviest raid against Naples of the war. Although there was no fighter escort, all the bombers returned.

One pilot said it was • almost a sightseeing trip. Algiers radio stated that 21 ships were damaged in Naples ■ harbour, including three liners, seven merchantmen, one repair ship, and two escort vessels, also a cluster of small vessels, a floating dock and three submarines in the floating dock. The raid lasted only 15 minutes. Huge fires quickly sprang up. At least 27 out of 97 planes were hit on the ground on Cap Adichio airfield, near Naples. Heavy flak was encountered, but few fighters were seen. An Italian communique states that 221 people were killed and 387 injured at Naples and adds that Allied planes also attacked Syracuse, Palermo and Carlo Forte (south-west Sardinia). Considerable damage was done at Naples and Syracuse. At Carlo Forte a coaster and more small vessels were hit and several fires started in the dock area.