Allied HQ, North Africa (July 16, 1943)
Communiqué:
Navy.
Catania Airfield has again been heavily bombarded from the sea.
Strong naval forces continued to give support on the right flank of the Army.
One of our destroyers operating north of Augusta has sunk one E-boat and probably damaged or sunk a second.
The work of disembarking troops and their supplies is proceeding smoothly.
Ground forces.
Bitter fighting took place, especially in the eastern sector, where the 8th Army made further progress against German troops, who desperately contested every inch of the ground.
Severe losses were inflicted on the enemy in the western sector. The 7th Army advanced several miles across the difficult hill country and captured further important positions.
The following towns can now be added to the list of towns captured by the Allied forces: Bagni, Vizzini, Vittoria, Niscemi, Campobello, Palma di Montechiaro, Sortino, Modica, Comiso, Biscari, Riesi and Canicattì.
The speed of the advance is very satisfactory, but transport and supporting weapons are of necessity limited during the present stages. Little damage has been done by the enemy to communications.
Air Communiqué:
On the night of July 14-15, our bombers attacked the docks and railway communications at Naples and airdromes in the vicinity of the city. The attacks were continued yesterday on communication points and industrial targets at Naples by forces of heavy bombers. Many bombs burst in the target area and numerous fires were started.
The docks at Palermo were bombed during the night by medium bombers, and fighter-bombers by day and light bombers by night continued the attack on road and rail communications throughout Sicily. Paternò, a point of focal communications, was attacked during the day by medium bombers.
Sweeps and patrols by our fighter aircraft were maintained throughout the day over Allied ships and our land forces. During the night, our intruder aircraft carried out operations over southern Italy and Sicily.
Twelve enemy aircraft were destroyed by our night fighters, one enemy merchant vessel was sunk by our torpedo aircraft, four enemy aircraft were destroyed during the day’s operations.
Seven of our aircraft are missing.