EXPLICIT DETAILS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1940, Page 5

EXPLICIT DETAILS

DAMAGE AT CAPRONI WORKS & ELSEWHERE MANY FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS CAUSED. GROUND DEFENCES FEEBLE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.17 a.m.) RUGBY, August 14. In the raids on Italy an aerodrome adjoining an aircraft works was hit — a stick of high-explosive bombs falling across the hangar on the west side. When another pilot dropped his bombs on a seaplane station at the south end of a large reservoir, he observed some of them falling on concrete slipways, while others were hitting hangars, and caused a great explosion, then fire. Yet another part of the works, this time at the south-west corner of the factory site, was hit and a big explosion blew up parts of it. As other sections of bombers arrived they added systematically to the destruction. Soon many fires were to be seen all over the target area. By half past twelve a pilot, just arriving, found the Caproni works themselves and an aerodrome building on fire. One of them, dropping some more bombs right across the factory building, saw fires spread and as the flames grew in strength they lit up the buildings, which could be seen clearly. One bomb caused an explosion with a big yellow flash, which died down quickly. At twenty minutes to one one of the raiders, bombing from 10,000 feet, in a clear sky, could see several fires in the target area, and another large one in some railway sidings alongside. He, too, scored hits on the Caproni Works. A little later another pilot came down to 1000 feet over the road and railway bridge at Cassan Dadda and hit it directly with two heavy bombs.

The Italian defences apparently were taken completely by surprise as the anti-aircraft fire was scanty and ineffective. All the aircraft engaged in this flight returned safely, except one,

which landed in the sea near our coast. The crew of this aircraft were picked up, and are safe.