AIR ARMADA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1943, Page 4

AIR ARMADA

GLIDER AND PARACHUTE TROOPS PUNCTUAL ATTACK ON CHOSEN OBJECTIVES. BEHIND ENEMY DEFENCES. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 11. The Associated Press says fleets of big American transport aircraft appeared over Sicily between 10.10 p.m. and 11.20 p.m. on Friday night, towing gliders filled with British and American troops. The gliders cut loose from the tewing planes and floated on to Sicilian soil exactly at the scheduled time. Paratroops dropped further west 70 minutes later and moved swiftly to consolidate positions behind the enemy's beach defences. Reuter's Algiers correspondent says big formations of all types of aircraft from the North-West African Air Force roared over South-East Sicily all day yesterday and delivered knock-out blows against airfields and bombed and strafed railroads and troop transports. The newest deadly A 36 fighter-bomb-ers carried out over 100 sorties. They bombed, machine-gunned and directed cannon fire at targets behind the enemy lines. They also operated directly in front of the Allied front lines. The anti-aircraft fire was mostly negligible, but during the afternoon it became more intense and more accurate. Bombers, without opposition, ranged over Central and South Sicily every hour from 5 a.m. Lightnings, sweeping over South-East Sicily, caught a column of 95 trucks on a road, a number of which were destroyed and their crews shot as they leaped from the trucks.

ENEMY REPORTS CLAIM THAT ALLIED FORCES ARE BEING HELD. ALLEGED SINKING OF SHIPS. LONDON, July 11. The Berlin radio stated that German and Italian reserves counter-attacked in Sicily early today. Today’s Italian communique says fierce fighting is progressing along the coastal stretch of South-East Sicily. It adds: “Italians and Germans are energetically engaging the enemy landing forces and effectively holding their pressure. Air activity is intense on both sides.” Both German and Italian communiques claim that Axis fighters were active. A German communique says: “Sixty-four enemy planes thus far have been shot down over Sicily.” Both communiques claim that Axis torpedo-planes repeatedly attacked enemy convoys and sank two steamers and one unidentified vessel. It is claimed also that two cruisers and numerous merchantmen were seriously damaged and that the Luftwaffe repeatedly hit a light cruiser, seven transports and numerous landing craft, the sinking of which can be regarded as certain. The Berlin radio said General Eisenhower apparently intends to build up the south-eastern tip of Sicily into a large-scale bridgehead. The south-east tip is relatively unpopulated and access to this part of the island is difficult, as it has few roads. The Americans brought up many transports, landing barges and warships, including a number of battleships, to land their forces. This fleet penetrated the south and eastern coasts of Sicily. Immediately after the landing, airborne troops, under the protection of heavy artillery from the fleet and also massed planes, landed near Cappassero. The defenders successfully beat off another landing attempt north of Syracuse. A second group of landing vessels, under cover of many warships, including battleships, penetrated Gela Bight and formed two bridgeheads near Licata. From this point the Americans carefully went forward into the mountain area northwards. Their advance was soon stemmed by local Axis troops. Fierce fighting developed. A landing attempt north-east of Marsala failed owing to the resistance of the defenders, who wiped but the invaders or compelled them to retreat. Only the Axis coastal defences thus far have been engaged. However, Axis reserves launched a counter-attack early today.