The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-05-17

Big Raj wellington bombers
which also hammered the Stellar
base Of Trapani, swept over Rom'
in the bright moonlight without
meeting serious opposition and ther
diyed low on the seaplane base neal
Ostia, the port OF Rome, to drof
high explosives among parked sea-
planes.
No bombs were dropped on the
city OF Rome itself, which has es-
capped aerial attack throughout the
war although the British never have
pledged themselves to avoid attack
on the Holy City which also Is the
center of the Fascist military sys-
TEN.
The lack OF strong opposition over
the Rome area surprised the Allied
pilots. One group OF Wellingtons
roared over their targets at an al
titude OF $50 feet, striking at the
base at the mouth Of the Tiber
River, without meeting any night
fighters and without serious anti
aircraft gun opposition.
The Wellingtons presumably were
not escorted.
The current series Of aerial at
tacks, striking deeper into Italy It,
self, continued TO hit at the island
invasion bases such as Sicily in what
Tedder said was the new phase OF
operations employing terrific force"
against key Axis bases.
Sixteen Wellingtons raided Ira
PAM in western Sicily, causing huge
explosions at the gas works.
1.-TWO hangers cat TrapanD were
set afire and planes on the ground
were strafed," a statement said
Raiders operated under a moon so
bright they were able to employ tao
tics usually associated with speedy
daylight fighter
zone of the Wellingtons made
four separate runs over the target,
the last at $50 feet above the
ground. Other raiders, having drop
ped their bombs, swept in twice at
attitudes from 100 to 500 feet, ma
chine cunning planes lined up in
front Of the hangers. They re-
ported that the burning hangers
looked like frameWorks OF twisted
steel.
after the bombing and machine
cunning attack the raiders went
over Rome, which was clearly visi-
BILE in the moonlight, although well
BACKED out"
Trapani was raided Saturday
night, while the attack on Lido Di
Roma was Sunday night
CThe Italian communique said Al
lied planes flew over Rome and
bombed Ostia, the port Of Rome, but
did not say any bombs were dropped
on the capital0
Allied air patrols shot down two
enemy planes. Three Allied planes
were lost in all operations.
planes of the Royal Air Force
Middle East command attacked an
Axis schooner off the east coast of
Greece yesterday the ships crew
abandoned her and she was last
seen listing badly. A small sail
ing ship was damaged One Allied
plane was loSt)
Inc french provisional govern
ment has sentenced six Tunisian
Quislings to death. All six are be-
lieved TO have fed the country.
They include George Guilbeaud, who
was in charge OF Tunisian propa-
ganda during the Axis occupation:
Jean Cherbe, his deputy; Christian
Du JonchaiX, former director of the
cabinet of Admiral Jean Esteva, who
had been governor general OF
Tunisia; the chief Of political police
the controller general OF the admin
istrative police and the civilian con-
troller of Sousse.
The text of the communique:
Last night May l6 the seaplane
base at Lido Diroma was attacked
by Wellingtons OF the strategic air
force. Bursts were seen among
parked aircraft
"On the night Of May 1916. Ira
PAM was attacked by Wellingtons
A large explosion was observed and
many other bursts were seen on
various targets. Patrols were car
ried out by the coastal air force in
the course of which two enemy air
craft were encountered and ehot
down
"Three Of our aircraft are missing
from all these operations"