130 Tons of Bombs Crash On Sicilian Airfield

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 161, 9 July 1943, Page 5

130 Tons of Bombs Crash On Sicilian Airfield

LONDON, July 7. One hundred and thirty tons of high explosives were dropped on Gerbinl a:r field, Sicily, yesterday in an attack by 60 Liberators. fragmentation bombs were included in the bombs dropped. Opposition to the attackers, which was strong three days ago, had virtually ceased. It was the fifth raid on Gerbinl -within three days. Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers says that reconnaissance photographs revealed that the recent Allied air attack against Sicily has resulted in the destruction of several dozen enemy planes on a cluster of aerodromes at Gerbinl. The rail sidings at the Messina ferry terminus are dotted with hundreds of bomb craters. It is now revealed that 110 Axis air craft have heen destroyed by the Allies in combat over Sicily in the last four days for the loss of 39 Allied planes. Allied bombers and fighter escorts have shot the Axis lighters out of the sky over Sicily after two days of fierce air fighting in which the Italians and Germans lost at least 86 planes, according to correspondents in North Africa. Major-General L. H. Brereton, commanding the United States Amy Air Force in the Middle Bast, said in Cairo to-day that the intensification of the air attacks against enemy targets during July was indicated. United States Army Air Force long range bombers were expected to strike more frequently with record-breaking bomb-loads. The United States Army Air Force in June made 2313 Middle East sorties and dropped 1600 tons of high explosives. The Berman News Agency quoting the Fascist Party Gazette says that seven high Fascist Party officials were killed In a recent Allied air attack on Italy.