EFFECTIVE ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1940, Page 5

EFFECTIVE ATTACKS

IN SPITE OF BAD WEATHER ! ON ITALIAN WAR FACTORIES. LARGE FIRE STARTED IN TURIN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, August 28. Further details of the raid by R.A.F. heavy bombers over Italy, in which the machines again made the double journey of 1,600 miles across France and the Alps, show that, as on former occasions, adverse weather conditions were overcome by most of the attacking aircraft.

Extremely low temperature caused ice to form on the wings of the aircraft and one bomber became so loaded down with this extra weight that it was forced to turn for home without completing its task. Over Sesto San Giovanni, cloud and ground haze added to the difficulties of the night's flight, but in spite of this the magneto factory was located and attacked. Hits with high-explosive and incendiary bombs were obtained on the works, but a scudding cloud hid the full result of the attack. One pilot, detailed to bomb the Fiat works at Turin, was more fortunate, for on his arrival, one minute after midnight, a small fire in one of the main buildings enabled him to identify the works. Two salvos of high-explosives were then dropped and were seen to strike the main works. Later over fifty incendiary bombs were scattered over the target area and within a short space of time a large fire was observed. Half an hour later the fire was still burning fiercely and was plainly visible from a height of over 1,500 feet. AFTERNOON RAID TOWN IN THAMES ESTUARY ATTACKED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.54 a.m.)

RUGBY, August 28. An Air Ministry and Ministry o: Home Security communique states “Large numbers of enemy aircraf again attempted to penetrate our fight ing defences this afternoon. Few bomb: were dropped, except in one town ii the Thames Estuary, where some dam age was done and a small number o: casualties were caused. Twelve of oui planes are missing, but the pilots oi four are known to be safe.”