SURRENDER TO AIRMAN

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22063, 14 June 1943, Page 3

SURRENDER TO AIRMAN

BRITISH PILOT SURPRISED LONDON, June 13 Another version of the surrender is given by the British United Press ana Associated Press correspondents at an advanced North African base. They state that Sergeant-pilot Cohen, of the Royal Air Force, made a forced landing on Lampedusa on Saturday, whne the island was still shuddering under the blast of Allied bombs. Italians with a white flag rushed toward him shouting “Can t y% u do something about tnis?” To Ms amazement tne Italians offered him the surrender of the island,' which he accepted. In the course of a flight frcm Malta, Seregant-Pilot Cohen had landed on Lampedusa because he was short of petrol for his engine. His plane had been working badly, but the vibration of the Allied bombs inexplicably rectified the engine trouble. After sheltering for two hours from the bombs, he induced the Italians to refuel his plane and flew to a North African base to report the surrender. The 8.8. C. version is that the is- ' land first surrendered to an R.A.F. pilot who made a forced landing there in the circumstances described by the correspondents and then flew back to his base with the news. An Allied Officer was landed from a naval vessel and the terms of unconditional surrender were accepted. Reuter's correspondent in Algiers says the Italian garrison on Lampedusa was estimated at about 3000. Before the surrender relays of Mitchells, Bostons and Baltimores, escorted by Warhawks and Lightnings, had knocked out the gun batteries, damaged the radio station and wrecked a third of the town. Lampedusa is the largest of a 1 group of three islands. It is barren and flat topped and difficult of access from the sea. The other islands, Lanosia, 25 miles to the north-east, Lampione, 10 miles to the west, are very small.