Allies Open Air Blitz Against Italy

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 82, 7 April 1943, Page 3

Allies Open Air Blitz Against Italy

WIDESPREAD ACTIVITY

Luftwaffe's "Worst Day Since Battle Of Britain"

(New Zealand Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, April 6. Italy and Germany are now getting a foretaste of the tremendous aerial bombardment of which Allied leaders warned them. The Allies, especially the British, are at last seeing the fulfilment of promises of wholesale blasting of Axis forces which were made in the days when the Luftwaffe, except for British fighters, dominated the skies, and even the Italians came west, expecting to enjoy the bombing of London. Now, while British and American bombers and fighters, based in Britain, in a round-the-clock offensive are plastering an ever-growing list of German industrial and transport targets, U-boat construction depots and bases, American Flying Fortresses have struck the first blows against Italy from airfields in Northwest Africa, further developing the R.A.F. offensive from Malta and other air bases. The British and American Air Forces are thus converging against the European strongholds for the forthcoming terrific blitz, which every nerve has been strained to inaugurate and maintain, and in which they are challenging the Luftwaffe to a decisive combat. The blitz is intended to "soften" the enemy, as a prelude to an eventual counter-stroke by land. The British and Americans are not only attacking Italian ports and vital sea communication lines essential for supplying Axis forces in Tunisia; they are also striking heavily against the Luftwaffe, which it is emphasised in dispatches from Allied headquarters in North Africa yesterday had its worst day since the Battle of Britain. Deadly Raids on Sicilian 'Dromes Luftwaffe planes on the ground were blasted when nearly three hundred of them were caught on aerodromes in Tunisia and Sicily, and scores were left smoking and shattered after incessant day-long attacks. Luftwaffe transport planes, which are sitting birds for modern fighters, were shot down over the Mediterranean, leaving a trail of blazing pools. Luftwaffe units were also blasted over Tunisia. It is conservatively estimated that the Axis lost at least* 100 planes—possibly many more—in 24 hours, compared with 186 lost over Britain on the famous Sunday in September, 1940. Amazing numbers of Axis planes were discovered parked on three Sicilian aerodromes—-100 at Bocadodifalco, 80 large planes at Mino, and 100 fighters, transports bombers at Borizzo. This suggests that Kesselring, the Axis air chief in the Mediterranean, had carried out a major concentration designed to offset Allied air superiority in the coming battle for Tunisia. Concentrations of a hundred aircraft at one airfield within Allied bomber range is very contrary to the German custom. However, these concentrations were made at aerodromes which are not usually used as large bases, and Kesselring probably "banked" on their escaping Allied reconnaissance. The Luftwaffe, already extended in the Mediterranean, cannot stand such losses, says the British United Press correspondent at Allied headquarters. The Germans have been trying to lie low and build up their strength, but henceforth they must come up and fight. If they stay on the ground they will be smashed. It is remarkable that so few fighters were apparently available for most vital points. Difficult to Estimate Damage Fortresses dropped stick after stick of bombs, straddling from 50 to 70 aircraft at Bocadodifalco. Their pilots are confident that a large number of planes -were put out of action. Buildings also were hit; they were seen burning when the Fortresses were 60 miles away, returning to base. Enemy fighters unavailingly tried to intercept the Fortresses, and two Germans and one Italian were shot down. Mitchell medium bombers, escorted by Lightnings, re-enacted the Bocadodifalco scene at Borizzo, where bombs fell among rows of grounded aircraft and the aerodrome building. Six German and two Italian fighters were shot down when they came up. More Fortresses attacked Mino, where the pilots reported that at least 30 Axis planes were destroyed. Commenting on the possibility that the damage was greater than the pilots reported, the British United Press correspondent points out that nothing is harder to estimate than the damage done to aircraft aground. A shell fragment tearing a vital spot may be as effective as if the plane were set on fire, or his wing blown off. Scores of Axis aircraft were found out of action for such reasons in Libya during the Eighth Army's advance. Eighteen Transport Planes Shot Down The shooting down of 1 8 Junkers transport planes was the most spectacular combat of the Tunisian air war. Lightnings were patrolling when they spotted a strongly-escorted formation 45 miles from the coast. Twenty-five minutes later there were 18 flaming patches in the water. Explosions suggested that the transports' were flying petrol tankers, taking fuel to Tunisia for the Luftwaffe. The Lightnings, which also shot down six Stukas and seven fighters of the transport's escort, had a full day. They escorted the Mitchells which caught the Axis sea convoy in the Sicilian Straits. The bombers, attacking through intense anti-aircraft fire, sank a destroyer and set three supply ships and two barges on fire. The Allied air forces flew the record number of 1 000 sorties during the day. They also intensively attacked the Tunisian airfields of la Sauconniere, el Dsem, Sidi Ahmed and el Ouina, shooting down 18 fighters. Allied losses were only 12 planes. These encouraging results were achieved in addition to the raids on Sfax and Palermo, which did much damage. . Commenting on General Eisenhower's communique, which for the first time mentions "strategic" and "tactical" air forces, the Daily Express military writer says the long-term strategy is a softening-up process preparatory to Allied attack against the mainland. That is why the Sicilian airfields were paid deadly attention. For the invasion of southern Europe air superiority is insufficient; it is essential to secure air mastery-—which is why the Allies are trying to break up Italian airfields deep in the rear of Tunisia. '■ Forty-two German bombers were destroyed in attempts to raid Leningrad on Saturday and Sunday, says Moscow radio. Only single enemy planes penetrated to the city and dropped bombs in a haphazard way, causing insignificant damage. Seven Russian fighters were lost.