SUSTAINED ASSAULT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1943, Page 3

SUSTAINED ASSAULT

ON ITALIAN ISLAND STRONGHOLDS AND SICILIAN FERRY

Enemy Fares Badly in Increased Fighter

Opposition

EIGHTEEN AXIS AIRCRAFT DESTROYED AGAINST LOSS OF ONE ALLIED PLANE

DAY AND NIGHT POUNDING OF PANTELLERIA

' LONDON, June 7. The two main targets for the Allied air onslaught in the Mediterranean yesterday were the island of Pantelleria again and the ferry service which brings supplies from Italy to Sicily. A feature of the day’s fighting was the increased fighter opposition by the enemy. Saturday’s attacks on Pantelleria were continued yesterday during the night and throughout the day. Wellington bombers of the R.A.F. did the night bombing and shortly after daylight a series of raids began when aircraft of the R.A.F., South African Air Force and United States Air Force started out from Tunisia to bomb and shoot up the Italian island. There were many fierce dogfights as the Allied planes whittled down the opposition. Eight Messerschmitts were destroyed and at least eight more were accounted for over the Sicilian ferry when an attack was made in daylight by 50 American Liberators from the Middle East, without loss. Messina, in Sicily, and the mainland terminals of the ferry service were attacked and many hits were scored on the target area. In the Eastern Mediterranean, R.A.F. fighters shot down two big Italian aircraft without loss and elsewhere a Junkers 52 was destroyed. The day’s bag was 19 Axis aircraft destroyed for the loss of one Allied plane.