INFERNO OF FIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22064, 15 June 1943, Page 4

INFERNO OF FIRE

ENEMY SHIPS DESTROYED (Official wireless, (Received June 15, 3.15 p.m.) . RUGBY, June 14 It Is officially stated that the Royal Air Force last night attacked objectives m the Rhineland and elsewhere m Germany and also laid mines in enemy water. Coastal Command Beaufighters jesterday attacked a convoy off the Dutch coast, and despite an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, described as the worst ever, sank one ship with torpedoes and damaged five others More than one torpedo hit was scored on a 5000-ton supply vessel, causing a big explosion towards the stem of the ship. A smaller merchantman went down immediately after being struck. A trawler was left in flames and other escort ships were raked with cannon fire. The convoy was dispersed and fled, the whole action occupying four minutes. All these operations cost the Royal Air Force one bomber and one Beaufighter missing. The chief target in the Mediterranean yesterday was the Catania aerodrome, in Sicily, which received a double pounding, first by the Royal Air Force on Saturday and secondly m daylight yesterday by American bombers from the Middle East. At Catania hangars, runways and installations and grounded aircraft were smashed up. Other Liberators attacked another aerodrome in Sicily, covering the dispersal area with bombs. In the course of the attack five enemy planes were shot down.