TARGETS IN ITALY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23748, 30 August 1940, Page 10

TARGETS IN ITALY

ANOTHER LONG FLIGHT POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS ATTACK ON FIAT WORKS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright British Wifeless LONDON, August 2S Further details of the raid bj' "Royal Air Force heavy bombers over Italy, in which the machines again made the double journey of 1600 miles across France and the Alps, show- that, as on former occasions, adverse weather conditions wei e overcome by rnost of the attacking aircraft, , Extremely low temperatures caused ice to form on the wings of the aircraft, and one bomber became so loaded down with this extra weight that it was forced to turn for home without completing its task. Over Sesto San Giovanni cloud and ground Jiaze added to the difficulties of the night's flights, but in spite of this the magneto factory was located and attacked. Hits with high explosive and incendiary bombs were obtained on the works, but scudding cloud hid the full result of the attack. One pilot detailed to bomb the Fiat works at Turin was more fortunate, for, on his arrival one minute after midnight, a small lire in one of the main buildings enabled him to identify the works. Two salvos of high explosive bombs were then dropped and were seen to strike the main works. Later, over 50 j incendiary bombs were scattered o\ ei the target area, and within a shptt space of time a large fire was observed. Half an hour later the fire was still burning fiercely, and was plainly visible from a height of over 1500 ft. A Rome communique states: "British aeroplanes, coming, as usual, acioss Switzerland, last night raided Pied- j mont and Lombardy. A few bombs fell at Michelino, in the Turin province, where a farmhouse was set on fire." A Swiss communique issued at Berne says foreign aeroplanes, most British, again violated Swiss- territory last night, flying from Jura to Savoy. GALLANT DUTCHMEN/ GERMAN ATTACK ON SHIP DECORATION FROM QUEEN (Received August 29, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON. August 29 Queen Wilhelmina has decorated the captain of a Dutch ship with the Older of William—the Dutch equivalent of the Victoria Cross—for gallantry during ah air attack on his ship, which 12 German aeroplanes bombed and machine-gunned. The captain personally manned a machine-gun and brought down one aeroplane, after which four of the German machines concentrated their attack, wounding the captain and several of the crew, who all carried on their duties. One seaman' did not give up until he collapsed. He died when he reached the shore. The captain and crew drifted ror hours on a raft until they were rescued by a British ship. .The captain was given a blood transfusion and is now recovering. The members of the crew also have been decorated for conspicuous bravery. LANDING IN GERMANY THOUGHT IT WAS SCOTLAND BERLIN STORY OF AIRMAN (Received August 29, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, August 29 It is officially stated in Berlin that Pilot-Officer Robert David Wawn, of Sydney, commanding a Hampden-Here-ford aircraft of the ,50th Bomber Squadron of the Royal Air Force, landed at Worms, on the Rhine north of Mannheim, thinking it was Scotland. ■ He and.three members or the crew, stepped out of the machine and were lighting cigarettes when a party of soldiers and peasants captured them. . The Berlin news agency says PilotOfficer Wawn claimed that he had dropped six bombs on the Templehof aerodrome and /set fire to three hangars. The agency adds: "This is not true. No bombs fell on the aerodrome or in the neighbourhood during the nighty ol August 2p,- which is the date given. BUTTER-RATION NEW BRITISH MOVE USE OF MARGARINE LONDON, August 28 Although the total allowance of fats remains unchanged, the Ministry for Food has announced that the butter ration will be restricted to 40z., thus cancelling the previous order, , which permitted each person to take 6oz. in either butter or margarine. The extra 2oz. •is now available m margarine only.