BOMBERS RAID NAPLES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23916, 7 April 1943, Page 3

BOMBERS RAID NAPLES

FLYING FORTRESSES FROM AFRICA DAMAGE TO SHIPS AND HARBOUR (Rec. 13 p.m./ LONDON, April 6. Sunday afternoon’s heavy raid on Naples by 100 Flying Fortresses from North Africa was followed at dusk by another raid from Middle East bases. A communique says direct hits were scored on two of the harbour, moles. In another raid, on Palermo, hits were scored on military buildings in the city area. All the Allied aircrait returned safely. The Flying Fortress raid was the heaviest Naples has yet experienced, states a report from North Africa. Although they had no fighter escort, all the bombers returned. One pilot said that it was almost a sight-seeing trip. The Algiers radio staled 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. Although the raid lasted only 15 minutes, huge fires quickly sprang up. At least 27 out of 97 aeroplanes were hit on the ground on the airfield near Naples. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered, but few fighters were seen. t The Fortresses attacked shipping at Carloforte, on the south-west coast of Sardinia, when a coaster and more small vessels were hit. Several - fires were started in the dock area. An Italian communique states that 221 people were killed and 387 were injured at Naples. It adds that Allied aeroplanes also attacked Syracuse, Palermo, and Carloforte. Considerable damage was done at Naples and Syracuse.*