MADE BY FLYING FORTRESSES ON SARDINIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1943, Page 3

MADE BY FLYING FORTRESSES ON SARDINIA

Destruction of Axis Ships & Aircraft SFAX & SEA CONVOY ALSO HEAVILY POUNDED PROGRESS IN THE LAND CAMPAIGN j . LONDON, April 1. In Tunisia, the British Eighth Army is making steady progress northwards. Today’s main news from the North African theatre is of heavy and damaging attacks by Allied bombers. The R.A.F. dropped over 100 tons of bombs on Sfax and a great force of Flying Fortresses attacked enemy targets in Sardinia. A summary of the position on land is :— Eighth Army: Advance patrols pushed forward yesterday and are in touch with enemy defences north of Oudref. Gafsa area: American and French troops and tanks are making slow progress through thick enemy minefields. Northern sector: British forces are pushing along the road to Mateur. They are reported to be seven miles beyond Sed Jenane and have captured much enemy material. The biggest air news of an altogether big day yesterday is of a record raid by American Flying Fortresses on Sardinia. The greatest fleet of these giant bombers ever used, nearly 100, soon after noon, roared over the harbour of Cagliari and three large Axis airfields nearby and dropped a heavy weight of bombs. The docks, quaysides and buildings were battered, the railway station hit and direct hits were made on five merchant ships in the harbour and over 20 smaller vessels were damaged. The Fortresses then swooped over the airfields and set fire to an underground ammuntion depot and wrecked or badly damaged over 60 enemy planes on the ground. In addition, 14 Axis fighters were shot down. All the Fortresses and escorting fighters came back safely. Another message states that the Fortresses were escorted by Lightnings. Thousands of bombs were unloaded on to the targets. Two merchantmen in Cagliari Harbour were set on fire. The industrial quarter and coal stores were bombed and a passenger train received a cluster of bombs. Repair shops and fuel pumping stations were also hit. On one aerodrome 44 out of a total of 115 aircraft were damaged and several buildings set on fire. At another aerodrome, 12 aircraft out of 44 were destroyed. One of these aerodromes was later raided by Wellingtons, which also launched a devastating load of bombs and left fires burning. An Axis convoy bound for Tunisia was attacked by other Allied medium bombers. Several ships were set ablaze and at least one was seen to sink. Six Axis fighters were shot down during the action. In Tunisia itself the key target for the last two days has been Sfax, especially the big airfield there. On Tuesday night, R.A.F. and naval aircraft dropped over 100 tons of bombs on this one airfield in a single raid. In spite of heavy ground fire, every one of the planes got back to its base.