WIDESPREAD ATTACKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1943, Page 5

WIDESPREAD ATTACKS

EARLIER REPORTS

RUGBY, July 3. A North Africa communique states: "On Thursday night bombers of the strategic air force attacked Palermo in Sicily and Cagliari in Sardinia. Yesterday Mitchells of the tactical- air force attacked the Castel Vetrano airfield in Sicily. An enemy fighter was shot down by one of the Warhawks escorting the bombers.

The Middle East air communique states: "Heavy bombers of the Ninth United States Army Air Force attacked the aerodrome of Lecce, in southern Italy, in daylight yesterday. Hits were seen on hangars and runways, and fires were started behind the hangars in. dispersal areas. Fuel was set alight on the south-eastern section of the aerodrome, and other hits were scored to the north. Twelve of a force of more 'than 20 enemy fighters, including a Messerschmitt 109 and a 202, were shot down by the bombers. •'Grottaglie aerodrome was also attacked in daylight yesterday by Ameri» can heavy bombers, which scored direct hits on hangars, and bursts were seen in the dispersal areas. "R.A.F, long-range fighters attacked a schooner in Kyllene harbour, on the west coast of Greece, and many strikes were seen.

"The previous-day fighters attacked two dredgers in Levkes Channel and saw many machine-gun and cannon shell hits. Gun posts on a canal bank were silenced.

"Spitfires yesterday sent a Junkers 86 crashing into the.sea north of Alexandria.

"On Thursday night R.A.F. heavy bombers attacked the Catania railway yards in Sicily. Bomb bursts were seen all over the sidings and in the industrial area, including a sulphur refinery. Four small fires were started. From these and other operations five of our aircraft are missing." Grottaglie is roughly 15 miles northeast of Taranto in the heel of Italy. Lecce, also in the heel of Italy, had been attacked once before by the R.A-F. in March, 1941. A Cairo message says that nearly 100 Liberators took part in the United States raid on Italian aerodromes, and about 200 tons of bombs were dropped. These were high-explosive, fragmentary, and incendiary. Some of the enemy defenders tried to bomb the Liberators from above.

In an offensive sweep on south-east Sicily yesterday, Malta Spitfires jumped on a number of Messerschmitts 109 which were taking off from Biscari aerodrome. One of the enemy was destroyed. Continuing the sweep fighters shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 and damaged several Messerschmitts 109. One Spitfire is missing.—8.0. W.