The Pittsburgh Press (April 5, 1943)
Fortresses blast 35 ships at Naples
Patton’s troops advance as fleets of planes smash at Axis
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer
Allied HQ, North Africa –
Big fleets of U.S. bombers, including almost 100 Flying Fortresses, hit or damaged about 35 enemy vessels in the big Italian port of Naples and adjacent waters, a communiqué announced today, while U.S. ground forces drove the Germans from two more hills in southwestern Tunisia.
The aerial attacks on the main Italian supply port of Naples and on ships in Sicilian and Sardinian waters gave the Italian mainland its first taste of high-altitude bombing by the Northwest African Air Force commanded by Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle.
Almost 200 tons of bombs were dropped on Naples in the 13-minute attack and 27 out of 97 aircraft on the nearby Capodichino Airfield were hit on the ground. All the U.S. Fortresses returned to base.
Two liners struck
The attack on Naples was the sixth American air raid on the port, but it was four times heavier than any previous bombing of Naples, where the Americans so far have not lost a plane in attacks from the Middle East or from this sector.
Ten ships, including two liners, were hit in Naples Harbor. A fire was started on one ship. A repair ship and three submarines and a cluster of small vessels were also hit, while seven merchantmen in a floating dock, a liner and two escort vessels were damaged. Fires were started on the quays and in adjacent industrial areas.
Bombs covert airfield
At nearby Capodichino Airfield, bomb bursts covered the field. Only weak fighter opposition was encountered, but the bombers met rather heavy anti-aircraft fire.
B-25 Mitchell bombers, meanwhile, swept over shipping in the harbor of Carloforte, in southwestern Sardinia, hitting a coastal ship and nine smaller boats. Other Mitchells set afire two ships from a convoy in the Sicilian Channel.
U.S. and British aircraft also continued to blast enemy airfields and attack columns and concentrations along the Tunisian fighting fronts, destroying 11 Axis planes. The Allies lost five.
Patton’s troops gain
U.S. forces under Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr. continued to advance on the southwestern Tunisia front, pushing slowly forward through heavily mined hill country east of El Guettar on the road to Gabes. They took two more hills on Sunday afternoon in operations against a chain of enemy positions dominating the road from the north, where the Germans have many 88mm guns and mortars manned by their best troops.
The enemy is making every effort in this sector to prevent Gen. Patton’s forces from making a junction with the British 8th Army under Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, which is jabbing at the German rearguard about 20 miles north of Gabes.
The Germans made a counterattack against Gen. Patton’s forces but were repulsed with severe losses, including prisoners. U.S. positions were not weakened.
The British engaged in artillery battles with the enemy on several sectors, especially northwest of Medjez el Bab, and mauled German transport columns. There was no confirmation here of Axis reports that the British were starting a big offensive in the Medjez el Bab sector or of similar reports that the Americans had started a heavy attack near Meknassy, but the U.S. action east of El Guettar was on a considerable scale.
Airfields attacked
Brilliant sunshine favored air activity generally on Sunday, Mitchells attacked the Axis landing ground at El Djem, covering the runway with bomb bursts. Two aircraft exploded on the ground and two burned. Several others were damaged and a truck convoy nearby was hit.
Boston bombers, with Spitfire escort, twice bombed the Axis airdrome at La Fauconnerie, which has been plastered day after day. Two Messerschmitts were destroyed and many hits made on the field. A column of smoke rose from the field after the attack.
In the south, fighter-bombers attacked the Zitouna Airdrome, 20 miles southwest of Mezzouna, damaging planes on the ground, and plastered the Skhira Airdrome, 30 miles north of Gabes. Five Messerschmitts were shot down when Spitfires intercepted two enemy bombing formations headed for the American positions east of El Guettar.
Yanks gain six miles
The Americans were battling some of Marshal Rommel’s finest veteran troops, heavily supported by tanks, artillery, mortars and machine guns as well as the ever-present minefields. Deeply entrenched on Bir Mrabot Pass, the Germans are holding the last high ground west of the coastal plain.
At one point, the Americans were six miles beyond the junction of main Gafsa-Gabes road and a road shooting off southward to Kebili.
American-manned Spitfire planes on Saturday shot down 14 German dive bombers in the biggest air battle yet staged over the American frontlines.
In northern Tunisia, the British 1st Army and supporting French forces pummeled enemy troop and transport concentrations and sent out reconnaissance patrols after clearing the Germans from Cap Serrat, 36 miles due west of Bizerte, main Axis base in Tunisia.