HEAVY ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1941, Page 6

HEAVY ATTACKS

OPERATIONS IN MIDDLE EAST PALERMO RAIDED. MUCH DAMAGE AT MESSINA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.20 a.m.) RUGBY, September 11. A. communique issued by R.A.F. headquarters in the middle East states: “On the night of September 8 R.A.F. heavy bombers attacked the harbour of Palermo. Bombs were dropped on docks and many hits were made on the three main quays and on a dry dock. Three large merchant ships are believed to have been damaged. A fire broke out on the Northern Quay, near an oil storage installation. “On the same night bombs were dropped on aerodromes at Catania and Gerbini, both objectives having been machine-gunned. “Heavy bombers of the R.A.F. attacked the power station, ferry ships and landing stages at Messina during the night of September 9. Many direct hits were scored and fires broke out near commercial oil tanks. Another very big blaze started in the citadel area. “Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm on the same night bombed and machinegunned an aerodrome at Castel Volcano, where a large fire started. Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm bombed aerodromes at Gambut and Monastic on the night of September 9. At Gambut bombs fell among aircraft on the ground, two of which were destroyed while others were damaged. From these operations all our aircraft returned.”