ITALY AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 26, 26 October 1942, Page 5

ITALY AGAIN

Third Night Raid By R.A.F. DAYLIGHT ATTACK ON MILAN LONDON, October 25. Italy last night was raided for the third night running by R.A.F. bombers. Earlier in the day a large force of Lancasters bombed Milan. Details of the raid are awaited, but a trail of sirens over Vichy France told of the passage of the bombers. The alert in Berne, Switzerland, lasted 31 hours. , The raid on Milan was the most spectacular daylight raid of the war. Never before had R.A.F. bombers travelled so far or crossed the Alps in daylight, a round trip of some 1300 miles. _ ,

The attack on Milan began’ at 5.4 p.m. in full daylight, and it was only when the Lancasters were well on their way home that they had the protection of darkness. They were not accompanied all the way by fighters, rind flew low and close together at terrific speed to bring concentrated fire-power to bear on enemy planes. Only three bombers are missing. Milan, 75 miles north-west of Genoa, is an important railway centre, and the Caproni aircraft works are located there. Industrial targets were successfully attacked, the bombers going well below the clouds to press home their attacks, boon there were many fires. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 24. The Bomber Command sent another strong force to northern Italy last night, but the weather was not so good as on Thursday night and bombing conditions were difficult. Genoa was. again attacked through heavy cloud, and Turin and Sayona were also bombed. Three of our bombers are missing. • , Wellingtons, Stirlings, Hahfaxes, and Lancasters have all taken part in these raids. One Lancaster flew most of the way out and all the way home on three engines. On Thursday night i>otli 40001 b. and 10001 b. bombs were dropped on Genoa. Following the first raid, Genoa was still burning yesterday. Pilots said they left the city enveloped in flames. From Genoa, Axis supplies are shipped to North Africa. ... More than 700 miles from their base in Britain, the attacking planes had twice to cross the Alps and fly across 1200 miles of enemy-occupied territory. Rome radio announced last night that, the King and Queen of Italy yesterday paid a surprise visit to the bombshattered city. . An Italian communique says: Hie R.A.F. last night dropped explosives and incendiaries on Turin, Genoa and Savona, Material damage, was not heavy in Turin and Genoa, but more damage was done in Savona.