BY SEA AND AIR

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1943, Page 5

BY SEA AND AIR

Tremendous Blastings

LONDON, June 9. Allied Headquarters report: “On Tuesday a force of cruisers .and destroyers bombarded Pantellaria Island. between Tunisia and Sicily. The results were satisfactory. There was a certain amount of enemy retaliatory fire, but our ships suffered neither damage nor casualties. The island was also bombarded yesterday and the previous night. Enemy bases in southern Sardinia were also bombed yesterday. One enemy aircraft was shot down, and one of ours is missing.”

An attack on Pantellaria started at dawn on Monday, lasting all day. The enemy again put up a strong umbrella of fighters. British, American and South African airmen rained bombs and bullets down into the target area. The last crews to turn

for home saw almost the whole island covered with dust and smoke. The merciless battering of Pantellaria by Allied sea and air powerreached new heights of intensity on Tuesday when shells and bombs rained down on the island fortress ceaselessly for 76 minutes, in co-ordinated attacks. Correspondents aboard a strong force of heavy cruisers and destroyers taking part in the bombardment vividly describe how shells were plugged at the closest range into coastal batteries and harbour defences simultaneously, as heavy British .and American bombers rained down thousands of bombs. The island seemed to rock under the terrific hammering, and was almost completely obliterated by smoke clouds rising from the bomb-torn land. Coastal batteries were left twisted and smashed. A gigantic pall of smoke was still seen to overhang the island when the squadron was 40 miles away after the action. The Associated Press correspondent at a North African U.S.A.A.F. base says that American airmen attacking Pantellaria enjoyed a rare cloud-seat view at over 20,000 feet as the British warships pounded the same target. “As soon as the Fortresses began unloading he'bombs, the warships turned etj masse and started in until it looked as though they were within a qu.arter-mile of Pantellaria harbour. They then turned broadside on, and let fly with everything they had.’’ Reuter’s correspondent aboard a British destroyer said: “We had been told to expect strong air support but did noUrealise the extent of that strength. Overhead wheeled masses of Fortresses, Mitchells and Bostons in perfect formation. As the warships circled the island, one after another peeled off towards the shore, breaking formation for the kill. Each shelled a different section of the island defences. Then we saw one of the deadliest concentrated bombings against a single target. The entire harbour appeared to erupt like some giant volcano, as the high explosive bombs were dropped with • deadly precision. Our ship, with a sister destroyer then made full speed for the snore, and engaged the enemy at short range. The batteries and our guns blazed continuously as we headed close to the rocky coast with a pack of gallant motor torpedoboats in our wake,_ until we could see clearly the gun positions and concrete pillboxes with thp naked eye. We scored a direct hit against one of the batteries, .and put it out of action. As we headed for sea again, we were followed by fire from the shore batteries which continued to be inaccurate. Some cruisers still blazed away. Little motor boats- daringly peppered (he harbour entrance at very close range. As one ship after another stopped firing, and headed to sea, we formed battle formation and the squadron steamed serenely away from Pantellaria.” ’ Another correspondent states that Italians at one stage, apparently thinking invasion was at hand, exploded beach mines. The British United -Press correspondent aboard a British cruiser says: “A naval force steamed from the base unmolested by enemy planes. We stood off the island soon after 10.30. when Mitchell bombers and Lightning escorts were just winging away from the bomb-run. A big cruiser on our port side opened no .at 11.20. We sent off our first salvo* a minute later. Shore batteries opened up, but the British ships just carried on. The fire from the shore was fairly ineffective. About 20 minutes after the shelling began, wave after wave of heavy bombers swept over the island, literally raining bombs down in rapid patternbombing, but this time the A.A. fire directed against our bombers had become negligible. Our planes were practically unmolested. The defenders apparently could not cope with both of us. The cease-fire (order came after the destroyers had nosed further inshore to get in more telling shots. We had fired 40 salvoes —266 rounds. Other ships were getting in about the same. At noon, three of our motor torpedo-boats darted inshore to draw the enemy’s machine-gun fire. We left the island half an hour after we stopped shelling, knowing it. was in for another pounding from the air. Some enemy fighters attempted to attack but our fighter cover drove them off. The Messina rail terminus in Sicily has again been attacked by aircraft of the Middle East Command. Today’s Middle East communique says: “During Monday night heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force attacked the ferry terminus and rail sidings at, Messina. Bursts were seen near the terminus, goods station and engine yards. Many fires were caused including a large one near the main railway station.” Describing Tuesday’s terrific naval and air pounding of Pantellaria an Agency correspondent says that squadron after squadron of aircraft attacked until the whole island was shrouded in smoke. As soon as the target area could be seen again our warships stood in, pouring salvo after salvo of shells on to buildings and barracks, bursting shells causing great eruptions. Over 200 shells were poured in in broad daylight. Motor* torpedo-boats then dashed into the harbour, shooting up jetties and harbour works, after which Flying Fortresses took up the attack. Our fighters smashed two enemy air attacks on our fleet. The ferry terminus at Messina and other objectives on Sicily as well as in the heel of Italy were attacked by our aircraft. From all these operations we lost two planes.