ITALIAN CITIES RAIDED

Southland Times, Issue 24884, 26 October 1942, Page 5

ITALIAN CITIES RAIDED

HEAVY OFFENSIVE BY R.A.F. (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 25. For the fourth time in 48 hours heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force last night attacked targets in Italy. Milan, second city of the kingdom and an important industrial centre, came in for a heavy pounding. Five bombers are missing. , The raid followed a daylight attack on the city by Lancasters. In the most spectacular daylight raid of the war the giant machines flew across France and the Alps and back again, a round trip of 1300 miles, losing only three of their number. They arrived over their target at 4.5 p.m., dropped their big bombs and turned for home. For part of the journey home they had the advantage of darkness. On the outward journey the Lancasters hedge-hopped across enemy territory, flying in closelypacked formation to take advantage of their massed fire-power. The Bomber Command sent another strong force to Northern Italy on Friday night, but the weather was not so good as on Thursday night and bombing conditions were difficult. Genoa was again attacked through heavy cloud. Turin and Savona were also bombed. Three of our bombers are missing.

Wellingtons, Stirlings, Halifaxes 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 both 4000 and 1000 lb bombs were dropped on Genoa. AIRCRAFT DELIVERED Equatorial African Route (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 24. During the past two years thousands of British and American aircraft have been delivered to the Middle East Command by the West African route across 6000 miles of equatorial jungle and desert. The Air Ministry News Service states that this has been a secret job and one of vital importance to the war effort of the United Nations. The aircraft have been assembled on the west coast of Africa and flown from landing ground to landing ground constructed across the continent, with emergency landing grounds cut from the jungle by native labour in between. The difficulties were, and still are, enormous, but from the start the scheme was a success and has been the answer to the supply problem brought about by the loss of the Mediterranean route. As the route developed the demand for experienced ferry pilots grew and nearly 100 Polish pilots were sent out. So well have they carried out their job that they have flown more than 1000 aircraft across the continent, with only 2 per cent. loss. Each journey takes over 24 flying hours, excluding putting down for refuelling and inspection. At first it was mostly Hurricanes and Blenheims that were flown across, but later American Marylands and Tomahawks came along.