ALLIED AIR OFFENSIVE IN SICILY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1943, Page 4

ALLIED AIR OFFENSIVE IN SICILY

Pilots Asking for Sky Traffic Control ENEMY FORCES UNDERGOING TREMENDOUS ORDEAL PLANES OPERATING FROM CAPTURED BASES CLOSELY SUPPORTING FRONT LINE TROOPS (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 14. The Allies are putting into the battle in Sicily the greatest concentrated air offensive ever mounter, according to a broadcast from the Algiers radio. The broadcaster added: “The enemy air strength in Sicily is being drained away. When Flying Fortresses raided Catania yesterday, the enemy put up only six fighters, three of which were shot down. Other Fortresses, raiding Milo Airfield, met 15 enemy fighters, only two of which made attacks. One pilot described the enemy’s position as hopeless.” The National Broadcasting Corporation’s Algiers correspondent says air traffic over Sicily is becoming so congested that pilots are requesting traffic control. The Air Force is giving enormous support to the troops. Here are the result of yesterday’s operations over Sicily: At least 150 lorries destroyed and an equal number damaged; six locomotives and 45 goods wagons destroyed; airfields bombed throughout the island and communications strafed; two merchantmen sunk and two destroyers damaged; 45 planes shot down. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says the defenders of Sicily all day yesterday underwent a tremendous ordeal, as every type of plane in the North-West African Air Force participated in an intense blitz. The daylight assault, which was unleashed with increased venom, followed on a night of relentless pounding. It is now confirmed that the Allies are operating from advanced landing grounds in Sicily, with fighters operating in close support of the front line troops. TWELVE THOUSAND PRISONERS TAKEN Correspondents at Allied Headquarters state that more than 12,000 prisoners have been taken in Sicily. Over 8000 have fallen to. the American Seventh Army. Units of the British Eighth Army were last reported a few miles from Catania.