DARING EXPLOIT

Evening Star, Issue 25168, 6 May 1944, Page 5

DARING EXPLOIT

LIGHT BOMBERS BREACH DAM SUPPLY AREAS BEHIND GERMAN LINES FLOODED (Rec. 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 5. Kittyhawks and Mustangs this afternoon broke the great Pescara dam, 12 miles south-west of Chieti, on the Pescara River, by divebombing, says a Naples correspondent. Twenty minutes after the first Mustangs had cracked the iron sluice gates a wall of water was seen moving down stream towards Pescara and was followed by high waves. No aircraft were lost. The dam, where there is an electricity generating station, is some 20 miles up the river, which flows into the Adriatic and runs almost parallel with the Sangro. The dam is 15 miles from Orsogna. Mustangs of a fighter-bomber squadron first attacked the dam this afternoon. The Kittyhawks, following, added to the wreckage. The crews were briefed to powerdive through the anticipated flak and drop their bombs in a very small area where they could do the most damage. It was known that only a heavy underwater explosion could break the heavy sluice gates. Another formation of Kittyhawks made a third asault and saw debris hurled high into the air as the bombs got home. Twenty minutes later the flood was already a mile below the dam and behind the main tide of water came six huge waves. Correspondents state that the exploit was a triumph for the smaller type of bomber. It is believed that the strategic ideal behind the attack was to flood the supply areas behind the German lines. Ten years ago when the dam burst the flood waters took a week to subside.