Show Yanks Blast Sicily With Waves Of Big Bombers Shatter Island Airdrome Installations Hit Axis Planes in Two Days After Conquest of Three Other Bases ALLIED HEADQUARTERS North Africa June 14 UP UP- UP Waves of American four bombers pushing a possible aerial offensive against Sicily shattered installations installations installations at two big airdromes Sunday Sunda and ran up the th two day o-d o toll t of enemy planes hit in m attacks on this strategic island to at least it was announced Monday The middle-eastern middle command took over the assault on Sicily a Cairo revealed while the northwest African air forces confined their activities to patrolling patrolling patrolling patrol patrol- ling and reconnaissance after a record conquest of three Italian islands in the Sicilian narrows in three days An Italian said axis planes sank one merchant ship and damaged three others in attacks on allied shipping in the Sicilian straits and off the Tunisian Tunisian Tunisian Tu Tu- coast Unleash Attacks The American middle-eastern middle bombers loosed their attacks on the Gerbini and Catania airdromes in eastern Sicily 24 hours after their northwest African aerial comrades destroyed or damaged 50 planes in raids on three airdromes airdromes airdromes air air- on the western portion of f the island Aircraft dispersal areas at Gerbini Gerbini Gerbini Ger Ger- bini were well covered with bomb bursts and fires fires' and explosions were observed Three enemy planes attempting to take off ran into exploding bombs and w were re destroyed and five German Mes- Mes were shot down downin in aerial combat Bomb hits on orf hangars indicated that other aircraft also may have been destroyed At Catania direct hits were re reported reported reported re- re ported on on black smoke was observed pouring from those on the western side of the field Serious damage was waS' wa caused to an undetermined number number number num num- ber of aircraft aft on the ground arid and installations the said Tear Up Runway Bomb bursts were seen to tear up the main runway British heavy bombers from the middle-eastern middle command also concentrated concentrated concentrated con con- I on Catania Saturday night touching off fires that could be seen for a considerable distance the said R RAF A F long range fighters fighters- and medium bombers likewise from the middle-eastern middle command set two vessels afire and damaged a third with machine gun fire in attacks on enemy shipping in the I Aegean sea and off the west coast j of Greece 1 One plane was lost in all operations operations operations opera opera- the Cairo said With the clearing of the Sicilian narrows of all enemy bases Sicily itself island stronghold guarding the southern approaches to Italy loomed as next target for allied aerial might I Planes Destroyed i Heavy air raids that destroyed or damaged nearly planes parked on three Sicilian airdromes Saturday indicated that American I and British fliers soon soon will be hitting hitting hitting hit hit- ting the square mile island off the toe of the Italian boot around the clock with ev every ry type plane from four Flying Fortresses to single Spitfire Spitfire Spitfire Spit Spit- fire fighter The surrender Sunday of the tiny volcanic island of Linosa 30 mil niles miles s. s northeast of Lampedusa I marked the elimination of the last f the the nuisance bases from which the he axis might harry or spy on alli allied d preparations for the next blows blown to th the nort north The air poundings that reduced Pantelleria and Lampedusa apparently apparently convinced the garrison of Linosa that any attempt at resistance resistance resistance re re- re- re would be futile and the square mile le island surrendered surrendered dered without a bomb being dropped or a shell being firedA fired A destroyer s standing sanding off Linosa early Sunday Sunday observed observed white flags flying lying and sent a landing party ashore The garrison of colliers soldiers soldiers sol col sol sol- diers liers and sailors were rounded up quickly and evacuated by sea The Continued O on Page Five Column Four Yank Fliers Blast Biasi Sicily Airdromes In New Offensive f n ve I Continued t from Page One operation had been completed by noon One Island Left The only island in the Sicilian straits still in Italian hands is Lampione just west of Lampedusa Lampedusa Lampe Lampe- dusa but it is smaller even than Linosa and has no military or naval value Lampedusa capitulated at 7 p. p m. m Saturday after 30 hours of aerial and naval bombardment The aerial attack began immediately immediately immediately imme imme- after the surrender of Pantelleria 90 miles to the northwest northwest northwest north north- west shortly before noon Friday and continued almost ceaselessly until the garrison hoisted white flags Four cruisers and six destroyers destroy destroy- ers shelled the island twice during Friday night and at intervals throughout Saturday Enemy batteries batteries bat bat- teries replied but ceased fire on being engaged The heavy raids on Sicily began Saturday even before Lampedusa's surrender was received Flying Fortresses dropped fragmentation bombs that spread shrapnel among nearly planes parked on the Castel Castel and Bocca di dl Falco airdromes and started fires visible for 25 miles Martin Marauders simultaneously simultaneously simultaneously dumped heavy bombs among the hangars of the Milo airdrome also on Sicily No enemy fighters were encountered over any of the Sicilian airdromes |