NAPLES BOMBED

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 11

NAPLES BOMBED

SUCCESSFUL R.A.F. OPERATION

OIL TANKS ANN OTHER TARGETS ATTACKED ALL MACHINES RETURN SAFELY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 1. (Received November 2, at 11.20 a.in.) Last night’s attack on Naples was the first time on which R.A.F. aircraft have been in action over southern Italy. Three targets were selected in the raids, which lasted three-quarters of an hour. The first aircraft concentrated on an oil refinery and groups of storage tanks, where the dropping of heavy bombs was followed by fires and many explosions. The second was on a station railway junction at Naples. During this raid the aircraft flew over the city at less than 2,000 ft up. In the third attack anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights were bombed, one battery being effectively silenced. An Air Ministry communique states: A small force of aircraft of the Bomber Command last night successfully attacked oil tanks and other objectives in Naples. All our aircraft returned safely. No operations were carried out over western or central Germany because of bad weather.

An Italian communique says British planes bombing Naples caused limited damage. One was killed and fire wounded.