GREATER AIR ACTIVITY

Evening Star, Issue 24989, 7 October 1943, Page 5

GREATER AIR ACTIVITY

HEAVY RAID ON GERMAN TRAFFIC CENTRE XRec. 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 6. Air activity over the Italian • battle area, has been on a considerably increased scale during the past 24 hours, writes a correspondent at Allied headquarters in North Africa: • The principal operation of +he period was a heavy concentrated daylight attack _ by Fortresses on a road junction near Bologna. The junction -is of great strategic importance to the Germans, and- the attack may; well- influence future fighting. Bologna is a road and railway centre, and has a very high pro* portion of traffic that flows from the Brenner Pass, Milan, and Trieste to Florence and Rome ; by both the electrified railway system and motor roadsof recent construction. On this occasion German fighters promptly took the air to do battle with the Fortresses. Thirty to 35 fighters swept in to attack the raiders in running fights lasting 35 minutes. -Many, of them, the majority Messerschmitt 109's, were shot down and many others damaged. The enemy fighters appeared to have little effect on-the raiding force, and the bomber crews declare that they completed their runs, most accurate and~successful attacks being carried out. A Middle East air communique says that on October 5 heavy hqmbers attacked the Bolzano marshalling yards, hitting railroad shops and an oil depot, causing several explosions. Strong enemy opposition was encountered. Medium bombers made attacks on highways and bridges at Formia, .Isernia, and Mignano. Fighters and fighterbombers maintained patrols over the mattle area, attacking motor concentrations and trains. During these and other operations 15 enemy aircraft > were destroyed. Six of ours aTe missing. Night bombers attacked Grosseto last night, • causing several large fires and explosions.