ATTACKS ON RHODES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1944, Page 3

ATTACKS ON RHODES

AND ON ENEMY SHIPPING . ; IN AEGEAN SUCCESSFUL BLOWS STRUCK BY ALLIED PLANES. NUMBER OF LOADED VESSELS SUNK. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, January 7. A Middle East air communique states: “On Wednesday night "heavy bombers of the R.A.F. successfully attacked Rhodes Harbour. The bombing was well concentrated and damage was caused to port facilities. Continuing bad weather again rendered difficult the destruction of enemy shipping attempting to supply the occupied islands. However, R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. bombers and long-range fighters sank a number of loaded sailing ships, intercepted near Monemvasio, in Southern Greece and north of Leros. Shipping in Palo Harbour, on Nissyros Island, was attacked with unobserved results. From these and other operations two of our aircraft are missing.”

AIR OPERATIONS

LIGHT PLANES ACTIVE OVER AND BEHIND BATTLEFRONT HEAVY MACHINES GROUNDED BY WEATHER. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, January 7. Though bad flying weather restricted air operations along the whole Italian front yesterday, fighters and fight-er-bombers gave active support to the Fifth Army by carrying out divebombing and strafing attacks on enemy troops and gun positions, writes a correspondent at Allied Headquarters. Invaders, Warhawks and Spitfires flew through thick cloud, flying low over hills and mountains, to make attacks in the Cervaro and Aquino areas. Invaders also flew further afield and carried out low-flying attacks against any targets they could find. They shot up a train, leaving a locomotive and

ten coaches burning east of Rome. They also attacked the town and railway of Fondi, south-east of Terrancina, causing a number of explosions and starting fires. They also destroyed a Heinkel 111 and shot up a motor convoy. Twenty- enemy aircraft were intercepted by American-flown Spitfires and two of them were shot down without loss. All heavy and medium bombers were grounded.