SHATTERING ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1943, Page 4

SHATTERING ATTACK

MADE BY AMERICANS ON PALERMO RECORD BOMB LOAD DROPPED. ON SQUARE MILE OF DOCKS AND FACTORIES. LONDON. May 9. Additional details of the big American raid on Palermo show that mere than five times the previous record bomb-load for this theatre of war was dropped in one square mile, full of docks and industrial targets. Smoke hung so thickly over the city for an hour after the raid that photographs could not be taken. American Flying Fortresses, Mitchells and Marauder bombers took part, with a big escort of Lightnings. The first aircraft arrived over the target about noon in perfect visibility. A correspondent who went with the raiders said the air was soon full of hundreds and hundreds of falling bombs. A terrific barrage came up and Messerschmitts also appeared in force. He alone saw four of the enemy fighters shot down in flames. Palermo, judging by the explosions and fires, received a terrific shattering, and must be a terrible warning to the Italian people cf what they can expect if they continue to fight. PANTELLARIA BLASTED. The Pantellaria Island base, in the Sicilian Straits, was also bombed by ICO planes. Great damage was done to petrol dumps and aircraft on the ground.