CRUSHING BLOW

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 292, 9 November 1942, Page 2

CRUSHING BLOW

RAID ON GENOA

(Roe. 1.20 p.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 8. .Last night’s R.A.F. raid dealt another crushing blow at the port of Genoa, which the Axis must inevitably use as a base from which to send reinforcements overseas. All the crows report that great destruction must have been done in the port. To get through to clear skies over Italy the crews had to fight their way through raincloud, icing conditions, and electrical storms all the way to the Alps. Snow was falling as the bombers crossed the Alps, hut once they were into Italy the weather was cloudless.

At the beginning of the attack on Genoa there was a good deal more flak than the night before, but as soon as the bombing became heavy the gunners ceased -fire. In a timo there were fires all over the port and along the waterfront. High explosives, including , many 4000pounders, were bursting among the flames with devastating effect. Rcpnrts by the bomber crews describe direct hits on warehouses and barges burning furiously in the harbour. — Official Wireless. FORTH ESSES OVER FRANCE.

An official communique states that United States Flying Fortresses, escorted by Allied fighters, bombed two targets in Occupied Franco during daylight to-day. One formation attacked the Lilie steel and locomotive works while another bombed enemy airfields at Abbeville. Good results were observed at Lille, where hits were seen on the works and the adjacent marshalling yards. At Abbeville heavy cloud made observation of the results difficult. Strong fighter opposition was encountered and the fighting continued until the bombers were re-crossing the Channel. A number of enemy fighters were destroyed and six of our escorting fighters' and one Fortress arc missing.— Official Wireless,