TRIPOLI HARBOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24733, 9 October 1941, Page 7

TRIPOLI HARBOUR

HEAVY BOMBING RAID ATTACKS ON SHIPPING SEVERAL DIRECT HITS RUGBY, Oct. 7. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: On the night of October 5-6 R.A.F. heavy bombers attacked shipping in Tripoli harbour. A large oil tanker was set on fire. The burning oil spread over a large portion of the harbour and the smoke made observation for the rest of the bombing difficult. Direct hits, however, were seen on two other vessels and a group of lighters near West quay. The same night naval aircraft attacked enemy aerodromes and seaplane bases at Marsala, Catania, and Gerbini. A number of enemy aircraft were severely damaged. The previous night other naval aircraft carried out on offensive patrol over Trapani and Marsala. Gun positions were machinegunned, float planes attacked and several damaged, and hangars and slipways bombed. Warehouses at Locata were attacked on the return journey. Benghazi was subjected to a heavy attack on the nights of October 4-5 and .5-6. A hit on a ship south-east of the Mole d'ltalia caused a -fire and explosion, and other hits on another ship and the Outer Mole were followed by terrific explosions. Bombs fell near other vessels and on the quays. Beniua aerodrome and the landing ground at Barce were attacked and repair shops and power stations set on fire. A motor transport workshop at Bardia was bombed on October 6. Ammunition dumps north-west of the town were attacked. S.A.A.F. fighters, while on an offensive patrol in the Sidi Omar area, engaged a large force of Messerschmitt 109's, shooting down one and severely damaging others. From all the operations three' of our planes are missing. A TANKER IN FLAMES RUGBY, Oct. 7. The Air Ministry states: The first raider over this much-battered target made a 4000 ft dive on a tanker off the Spanish quay, and sent a stick of bombs crashing into her.. A blaze of orange flame, accompanied by masses of black smoke, shot upwards, lighting up the rest of the shipping in the harbour and outshining the bright moonlight that lit up the town. From miles out to sea the raiders following saw the bonfire and flew in and dropped their cargoes of high explosives on the other ships in the harbour and on lighcers and b-rges around them. The fire soon ignited the oil gushing from the tanker and spread a blanket t of flames over the waters and a heavy pall of smoke drifted miles out to sea. The second pilot of a leading aircraft, describing the scene, gays: "When we came in to the attack we could see the tanker plainly and other ships lying beyond it in the direction of our run. When we dropped our bombs and turned away there was such a terrific shout from the gunner and observer that I thought the fire had got us, but they were just whooping at the sight of bombs crashing into the tanker. The flames shot up immediately, and I could see the dark shape of a funnel sticking up out of the sheet of flame."

When they left the target after the two hours' attack the crews of the returning aircraft could see the fires shining through the haze miles away. Such ships of Italy's convoys as succeed in crossing the straits of Sicily cannot count on a safe haven in Africa.