MIDDLE EAST

NO 3 c 3 Jffl 2Z V >/ ^£t ijlj EADQUARTERS MIDDLE EAST

APRIL-JUNE

MIDDLE EAST REVIEW IMO3

HEADQUARTERS ROYAL AIR FORCE MIDDLE EAST Contents

Tunisian Finale ... Page 5

Prelude to Invasion ... • )t 41 Tables Showing Scale of Effort „ 59 Tables of Operations in the Mediterranean „ 63 Prepares „ 69 Air/Sea Rescue '... „ 75

The Axis Air Forces in the Middle East, 1940-1943 ;, 88 Flying Control ti 98 The Fight for the Mediterranean „ 107 S.A.A.F. in the Western Desert „ 125 Maintenance and,Supply „ 138 From the 540s „ 145

Acknowledgment M 151 Maps :- The Battle Area—1st April to 14th May, 1943 ...... „ 4 „ 40 German Air Force Arrival in Mediterranean Area, 1941 „ 90 Axis Air Force Range—June to November, 1941 ... „ 93 „ „ „ „ July to October, 1942 „ 95 „ „ „ „ at evacuation of Tripolitania, February, 1943 „ 96 The Eastern Mediterranean „ 108

WFrw.^ liddle East Review is Secret (•= American Confidential). It isTHI/Kh'ded for the information of all officers and flying crews, under conditions of security approved by the Commanding Officer, who is to ensure that within those limits it has as wide a circulation as possible. No quotation may be made from it without the authority of S.A.S.O., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.; neither are any of its contents to be communicated to anyone out­ side the Services. All persons are hereby warned that the unauthorised retention or destruc­ tion of this document is an offence against the Official Secrets Act, 1911-1920. Any unauthorised person obtaining possession of a copy should immediately forward it in a closed unstamped envelope to H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. Foreword

T>he events reported in this number of the R.A.F. Middle East Review were not only the most favourable, but also the most important for,,the Allied cause which had so far materialised in the Mediterranean area. The complete clearance of all Axis forces from North finally removed any threat to the Middle East, opened the. once more to Allied shipping from to Haifa, and restored the short sea route via the Suez Canal to India and the Far East. The period reviewed, the second quarter of 1943, is thus a conclusive one, and advantage has been taken of the fact to include articles which begin with 's entry into the war,, and to end them as preparations are made to divorce her from the Axis partnership. In view of the movement of operations westward and northward from the Middle East theatre {using that term in its narrowest sense), it lias been decided to clxange the name of the R.A.F. Middle East Review to the R.A.F. Mediterranean Review commencing with the next issue, No. 4. Thus all Mediterranean operations, including those in Italy and southern Europe, will be legitimately covered in the historical narratives, although the Review will continue to include domestic aspects of the Middle East opera­ tions from which so many valuable lessons have been learned in the last three years. PRINCIPAL ROADS SECONDARY ROADS AND MOTOR TRACKS R Al LWAY 5 SALT LAKES AND MARSHES &? NAME OF PLACE UNDERLINED INDICATES EXISTENCE OF AIRFIELD OR LANDING GROUND

THE BATTLE AREA 1ST APRIL TO 14TH MAY 1043 Tunisian Finale 1st APRIL TO 14th MAY, 1943

BY THE END of March, 1943, as recounted in about 210 were JU.88/HE.III bombers and tor­ the previous issue of the R.A.F. Middle East pedo-bombers. The Italian air forces in Sardinia, Review, the Allied armies, supported by the Corsica, and Pantellaria totalled approxi­ North-west African and Western Desert Air mately 545 aircraft; of these the majority of the Forces, were closing in on the enemy's Tunisian fighters was based in* Sicily and torpedo bombers forces. Meanwhile, Allied bombers based in in Sardinia. Serviceability was estimated at 50 North-west Africa and Cyrenaica continued their to 55% for German and 50% for Italian air­ attacks on the enemy's ports, airfields and con­ craft. voys, and naval co-operation and defence'•squa­ The Allied air forces were now immeasurably drons controlled the Mediterranean sea-ways. stronger than those of the Axis. The Western The following account treats of tRe air activity squadjpns under the>operational during the last six weeks of the Tunisian cam­ control of the North-west African Air Forces) paign, which ended in the enemy's relinquishment were located in the Gabes area, as near the of his remaining foothold in Africa. enemy's Akarit positions as possible. In Continuing the practice previously adopted, the this forward area the Force consisted of eight Kittyhawk and five U.S. Warhawk fighter-bom­ operations of ilfaZta-based aircraft during this ber squadrons; four Spitfire squadrons (including period are considered separately elsewhere in the the Polish Flight) and four U.S. Warhawk squa­ "Revidw." drons; one night-flying and one "tank-busting" The Enemy's Unenviable Position Hurricane squadrons; five R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. and two U.S. Mitchell squadrons; By the beginning of April, 1943/the enemy's and tactical, strategical and photographic recon­ position in was unenviable. naissance squadrons. Following the Vinth Army's outflanking of the Dine in the last week of March, Rom­ Further east four Wellington squadrons were mel's battered remnants withdrew to their next located at Bir el Gardabia. Two Liberator Groups delaying point — the Oued Akarit; our pursuing of the Ninth U.S. Air Force had bases at Berka land forces immediately established contact with and Solluch and the R.A.F. Liberator and Halifax the enemy at this new position. squadrons, under the operational control of the Meanwhile, north of the - Gabes road Ninth U.S. Air Force, operated from airfields American forces, operating east of Guettar, near Solluch and Bir el Gardabia, respectively. maintained pressure on the enemy's perimeter, No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group continu­ although for the moment their advance was ed to control the sea-ways of the Eastern Medi­ checked by enemy armoured units in that area. terranean and A.H.Q., Air Defences Eastern Me­ In the central sector the Allied forces which diterranean, controlling four groups of fighters had advanced north-east from on 26th based in the , Benina, Alexandria and March, and had occupied Fondouk] were now Haifa areas, was responsible for the safety of threatening , the focal point of the road our land and sea communications from Tunisia system of the central Tunisian pj^in. to the Levant. In the north, our land forces had captured To the west of the enemy's Tunisian perimeter Sedjenane on 30th March and occupied Cap Ser­ squadrons of the North-west African Tactical Air rat two days later. The advance along the Sed- Force were disposed in order to give full support jenane- road, however, was rendered dif­ to our land forces. In particular, six U.S. Spit­ ficult not only by the enemy's mining of the rold fire squadrons, three Hurricane-bomber squa­ and blowing-up of bridges but by the exceedingly drons, and seven squadrons of U.S. Warhawks heavy going and bad weather. and Airacobras, located in the Thelepte-Sbeitla area, were ready to give close support in the The Opposing Air Forces central sector and to the south. Ten R.A.F. Spitfire squadrons were available for operations At this stage the German Air Force strength in in the central and northern sectors and a total Tunisia was estimated at 325 aircraft, including of thirteen squadrons of U.S. Bostons U.S. 180 single-engined fighters and 55 fighter-bom­ Mitchells, and R.A.F. Bisleys were located at berg. The Italian Tunisian force comprised ap­ Canrobert, Berteaux and Oulmene, respectively. proximately 100 MC.200/MC.202S. In Southern Italy, Sardinia and Sicily the German Air Force The Strategic Air Force included three groups comprised approximately 405 aircraft, of which of U.S. Fortresses, two of U.S. Mitchells, and one of U.S. Marauders; night bombing was carried southern battlefield, and "softened", to some ex­ out by two Wellington squadrons. The American tent, the enemy's Akarit defences. bombers operated principally from the Constan­ On 1st April attacks were renewed on el tine area and the Wellingtons from Blida. Bom­ Maou airfield, the enemy's most southerly Tuni­ ber escort and fighter-bomber commitments were sian landing ground, in order to limit the opera­ met by six squadrons of U.S. Lightnings. tions of ME.109s and MC.202s over the Akarit The Coastal Air'Force was responsible for the area. At this time, also, Sicilian-based JU.88s safe passage of our Central Mediterranean con­ and ME.210s were probably using Sfax as an voys, coastal protection and night shipping stri­ when operating in the kes. A total of five Albacore, Hudson and southern sector. Our attack was carried out by Slwordfish squadrons operated from Tafaroui and eighteen iS.A.A.F. Bostons, 54 R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. Blida and a Marauder squadron was also based Baltimores and fourteen U.S. Mitchells, flying in in the last named area; three Beaufighter squa­ three formations; escort was provided by Spit­ drons operated from Maison Blanche and Setif; fires, Kittyhawks and U.S. Warhawks. Bombs and four fighter squadrons1* of Hurricanes and hurst across the landing and dispersal areas, Spitfires had operational bases at Maison Blan­ causing fires, and near misses were scored on che, Jemmapes and Taher. aircraft and buildings. The following day, 2nd April, the light bombers Rommel's Forces at Akarit and fighter-bombers turned their attention to the At the end of March, Rommel's retreating army enemy's Akarit positions. Five attacks were was establishing itself at^its next delaying posi­ made, by a total of 98 escorted Allied bombers tion — the line of natural anti-tank barriers and three by Kittyhawks and U.S. Warhawk formed by the Oued Akarit and the Fatnassa and fighter-bombers. In general, results were not Zemlet el Beida hills. In some respects the Aka­ observed, although some fires were seen to break rit position can be compared with that at Mareth; out and at least one hit was scored on an 88 mm. in particular, the eastern obstacle in each case gun position. Proof that targets were difficult was formed by a deep wadi. The water channel to locate is shown by the fact that later 63 U.S. in the wadi Akarit was extremely narrow, how­ Warhawks made seven armed reconnaissances ever, unlike the 50 foot stream in the wadi Zig­ over the Akarit area without making any at­ zaou which proved such a formidable obstacle tacks. during the frontal attack on the Mareth .Line. For the follpwing three days bad weather limit­ Above all, the artificial defensive works at Akarit ed our air attacks on military targets. Apart were vastly inferor to those at Mareth. from small-scale fighter-bomber attacks on The Axis troops were disposed in much the enemy transport vehicles and a raid on Zitouna same way as at Mareth. The coastal area was landing ground, the only attack of note was that held by Italian troops and the junction between made by five Halifaxes and 31 Wellingtons, with them and a further Italian division on their right Albacore illumination, on Sfax (the principal was cemented by elements of the German 90th coastal town behind the Akarit position) on the Light Division. The rest of the line was held by night 4th/5th April. Hits were scqred on the predominantly Italian forces, with elements of railway station, barracks and factories north of the 90th Light Division guarding the main pass the town. between Djebel Zemlet el Beida and Djebel Hai­ R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. Spitfires definitely held doudi. The immediate armoured reserve behind the upper hand in the days before the VIHth the Akarit line was provided by the 21st Armour­ Army's attack. On 2nd April, Spitfires on of­ ed Division, while the 15th Armoured Division, fensive patrols over the southern battle area shot located south-west of Skhirra, formed the strate­ down five ME.109s and damaged three others gical reserve which could be switched to the without loss, and two days later they destroyed Akarit or Guettar areas as required. In its tank two ME. 109s and damaged a FW.190, again wit.-i strength, however, the two divisions were in a no Spitfire casualties. bad way and at this stage it was estimated that Meanwhile, .No. 40 Squadron S.A.A.F. main­ about 50 runners only were available. An even tained its reconnaissances of the Akarit defences greater weakness was the paucity of German and No. 680 Squadron covered the enemy's land­ infantry in the front line. ing ground and Sfax harbour.

Air Activity Prior to VHIth Army's Advance Enemy Resistance in the El Guettar Sector For the first five days of April, after the bustle While the VHIth Army was preparing to of the withdrawal and chase from the Mareth launch its attack, the American forces operating Line, both Rommel's forces and the VIHth Army east of El Ghiettar continued to press on the concentrated on preparing for a renewal of the enemy's western flank. Rommel, well aware of battle. the seriousness of the threat from this quarter, During this short lull the Western Desert Air switched over armoured units which checked any Force limited the enemy's fighter activity by further advance of the American forces and, in attacks on his landing grounds behind the Akarit fact^ regained some high ground in the vicinity position, retained mastery of the air o\ " bel Kreroua. U.S. Spitfires of the Tactical Air Force main­ Jmerit • during the first tained air superiority over the El Ghiettar battle three months oT

and after In the course of the afternoon 54 U.S. light­ Mark III tank only was located and forthwith nings covered the Sicilian Straits, but no enemy destroyed. enemy aircraft were sighted. Towards evening, vehicles began to retire north­ wards from Oued Akarit and by nightfall the Results of First Operation enemy's withdrawal was in full swing. The de­ As a result of the day's operations 40 enemy fection of the Italians, of whom 5,000 were cap­ aircraft were shot down and, after an examina­ tured on the one day, and the defeat of the in­ tion of photographs taken by reconnaissance air­ adequate German infantry had rendered the po­ craft, it was estimated that a further 161 air­ sition untenable. craft, including many transport types, were des­ The enemy transport vehicles moving north­ troyed on the Tunisian and Sicilian airfields. wards along the coast during the evening were Allied losses were three aircraft definitely des­ straffed by Kittyhawks and U.S. Warhawks of troyed and six missing. the Western Desert Air Force, and Spitfires pa­ On several other occasions in April the same trolling the area reported nine large fires burning principles of timing and interception were used simultaneously among vehicles near Skhirra. One as in the original operation recounted above and Kittyhawk and four U.S. Warhawks failed to equally striking results were achieved. These return. supplementary operations against the enemy's During the one-day battle continuous offensive air transport system are dealt with chronologi­ patrols over the Akarit area were maintained by cally. 161 R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. Spitfires. One large escorted formation of Stukas was intercepted and The Akarit Defences Stormed their attack broken up and there were several In the early morning of 6th April the Vlllth engagements with small formations of enemy Army launched a frontal attack on the enemy's fighters. In all, the Spitfires shot down two Akarit defences. Although the enemy had de­ ME.109s and one MC.202, probably destroyed two voted six days to the final strengthening of the ME.109s and damaged three others without loss; line the position was held for one day only. in addition three JU.87s and one ME.109 were The action was by no means a "walk-over" for destroyed by our anti-aircraft fire. the VTIIth Army, however, and fierce opposition The collapse of Axis resistance before the was encountered, particularly at the pass over Vlllth Army compelled the enemy in the El Guet­ the Djebel Fatnassa and the northern end of the tar and Faid sectors to join in the retreat and Djebel Roumana. This latter point, in fact, was left the 2nd U.S. Corps in possession of the battle­ in the enemy's hands until the late afternoon, due field. The Allied armies in Tunisia were now to the resistance of the German armoured units, able to form one continuous front, with a resul­ including the 15th Armoured Division which had tant improvement in co-ordination and flexibility. moved south from Skhirra when the battle was joined. The Pursuit to Enfidaville While our land forces were making their initial Rommel's forces were on the move again, this attack 78 Kittyhawk and U.S. Warhawk fighter- time to EnfidaviUe, where a natural defensive bombers, escorted by Spitfires, all of the Western line was provided by the hills which run west­ Desert Air Force, carried out armed reconnais­ wards to join the Grande Dorsale ridge in the sances over the enemy's positions; trucks filled Djebel Fkirine area. This line of defence, made with troops were machine-gunned west of Oued more formidable by anti-tank ditches and pro­ Akarit and transport vehicles and gun. positions tective works, linked up with the enemy's posi­ were bombed in the hills 25 miles east of El tions to the north-west, thus forming the final Gruettar. Confirmation was also obtained of the bridgehead. Within lay the coastal plain — and reports made by tactical reconnaissance aircraft Tunis. of No. 40 Squadron S.A.A.F. on the enemy's reac­ On 7th April the VIII Army began its six day tions to the Vlllth Army's attacks. pursuit which covered 150 miles. The advance Later in the day, when the enemy attempted was delayed more by the difficulties of the terrain to counter-attack at two points north of Oued and problems of supply than by enemy rearguard, Akarit, five attacks were delivered on enemy actions. The stages of the pursuit were marked concentrations in these areas by 54 R.A.F. and by our occupation of the coastal towns; Mahares S.A.A.F. Bostons and Baltimores and eighteen fell on the 9th, Sfax on the 10th and on U.S. Mitchells, escorted by Spitfires, Kittyhawks the 12th. and U.S. Warhawks. Five additional attacks From the commencement of the enemy's with­ were carried out by over 100 Kittyhawk and U.S. drawal on the night of 6/7th April until the night Warhawk fighter-bombers. Apart from a number of the 8/9th the Western Desert Air Force light of fires which were seen to break out, however, bombers and fighters attacked the retreating details of the damage inflicted could not be ob­ enemy columns by day and heavy and medium served. bombers of No. 205 Group bombed both the ene­ "Tank-busters" of No. 6 Squadron had a rather my's vehicles and coastal towns by night. On 9th disappointing day: three armed reconnaissances and 10th April targets had thinned out in the were made for reported enemy tanks, but one southern sector and, in addition, bad weather limited offensive operations. Therea t targets were loca- were switched to the enemy's airfieldsTbehln El Guettar to J3fax, Enfidaville defences. along which ~enemy*ffWeP^ere retiring in order During the night 6/7th April attacks were de­ to avoid being cut off by our troops advancing livered by 69 Wellingtons; 21 of the medium from the south. Hurricane "tank-busters" also bombers concentrated on bombing Sfax where operated on this day, setting on fire at least two the railway sidings, the phosphate quay and stores tanks; anti-aircraft fire, however, was intense depot were hit and the remainder attacked enemy and three Hurricane IIDs did not return. The transport, particularly in the Mahares area. Dur­ following day, the attacks were intensified on the ing the night, also, eight Bisleys of the Tactical enemy vehicles withdrawing to Sfax along the Air Force bombed vehicles on the roads near Sfax coastal road and over the tracks from . and Sousse but results were unobserved. Five Eleven attacks were made by 162 Allied bofribers Halifaxes and 53 Wellingtons repeated their pro­ while 300 Kittyhawks and U.S. Warhawks straff­ gramme on the following night, with the help of ed and bombed the retreating columns from dawn flare-dropping Albacores; on this occasion, how­ to dusk. One Kittyhawk and four U.S. War- ever, Sfax town received less attention, the main hawks- did not return. A conservative estimate attacks being made against vehicles and convoys of the damage inflicted on enemy vehicles by the en route. The next night, 8/9th April, five Hali­ bombing and machine-gun attacks on 7th and 8th faxes and 50 Wellingtons extended the attacks to April was 130 destroyed and 200 damaged. Sousse, again with the help of flare-dropping Al­ During these two days enemy air opposition in bacores. The heavy bombers and a fifth of the the southern coastal area was slight, due to the medium bombers attacked targets in the town abandonment of forward landing grounds. Such itself and the remainder attacked a landing fighters as did appear, however, were engaged ground, transport, roads and camps in the vici­ by patrolling Western Desert Air Force Spitfires; nity of El Djem and Djemmal. three ME.109s and one ME.110 were shot down, Meanwhile, during the hours of daylight on 7th one ME.109 probably destroyed and three da­ and 8th April, the Western Desert Air Force maged for the loss of one Spitfire. bombers and fighters harassed the enemy's re­ In addition to the attacks mentioned in the treating columns incessantly. On the 7th, conti­ preceding paragraphs American aircraft of the nuous attacks were delivered by a total of 124 Tactical Air Force on 7th April attacked the Allied light-bombers, heavily escorted by Kitty- enemy forces which were forced to withdraw from

Road and rail bridges over the wadi Akarit destroyed by the enemy before retreating.

11 the El Guettar sector when the A karit defences escorted by Spitfires. The Hurricane-bomber at­ had been over-run. tack was particularly successful; after dropping Most of the attacks were delivered against the their bombs the Hurricanes and escorting Spit­ enemy columns retreating through the Djebel fires shot up about 50 vehicles and left them in Chemsi Pass, east of El Guettar. In this restrict­ flames. Intense flak was now being encountered ed area attacks were made by two formations of over the Enfidaville area and three Hurricane- escorted Warhawk-bombers, twelve escorted Bos­ bombers were shot down. When the day raids tons and twelve escorted Mitchells. In particular, had finished, fifteen Wellingtons took over and the Bostons dropped bombs on 40 to 50 closely- attacked general targets in the area Enfidaville packed trucks and a large column of black smoke - Bou Ficha - . was seen issuing from the burning vehicles when Rommel's retreating forces had now completed the American aircraft left the scene. their long trek from Oued Akarit to Enfidaville. The Allied air attacks in this battle area were Even more effective were two attacks delivered then turned against those enemy landing grounds by twelve escorted Bostons and 36 Warhawks on which had acquired importance due to the ene­ enemy columns east of Maknassy. The Bostons my's loss of airfields in the south. These attacks bombed two large concentrations of vehicles held up by a road block and reported damage to are considered on pages 15 to 17. nearly 100 vehicles. The Warhawks bombed and straffed a column of vehicles, causing over twenty Allied Advance in the Central Sector fires; five Warhawks failed to return from this During the first week in April the Allied land mission. forces had maintained a steady pressure against the enemy in the Pichon and Fondouk areas, in Attacks on Enemy Columns Continued the central sector of the Tunisian battlefield. From the afternoon of 9th April Rommel's re­ There were, however, no major engagements. The treating forces sought to escape the attacks of air activity on either side was also subdued: the Western Desert Air Force by accelerating the U.S. Airacobras, Warhawks and Spitfires of the rate of their withdrawal. The enemy columns Tactical Air Force carried out offensive sweeps approaching Enfidaville and those vehicles con­ over the area, extending as far as Kairouan to tinuing northwards were then attacked by aircraft the east and Faid to the south, but, in general, of the North-west African Air Forces. there was "nothing to report." Reconnaissance missions over the area were also carried out by These fresh attacks on the enemy's retreating the U.S. 3rd Photographic Group. columns were initiated on 9th April by fifteen Hurricane-bombers, escorted by Spitfires; bursts While the retreat of the Axis troops in the were observed on transport vehicles and among south was in progress after the battle of Akarit, troops. During the night the attacks' were con­ our pressure in the central sector increased. In tinued by fifteen Wellingtons of the Strategic spite of strong enemy resistance, the high ground Air Force which dropped 21 tons of bombs on dominating Fondouk was occupied on 9th April. troops and vehicle concentrations on the roads During the day U.S. Spitfires and U.S. War- around Enfidaville. Attacks on road junctions in hawks of the Tactical Air Force carried out of­ the area were also made by two French Leo 45s fensive sweeps over the Pjchon - Fondouk - Kai­ of the Huitieme Groupement. rouan area, but no enemy air activity was re­ • ported until the evening, when 24 U.S. Spitfires The following day, 10th April, the attacks on intercepted sixteen JU.88s. Eight enemy bombers Rommel's forces were intensified. Six attacks were destroyed, three probably destroyed and one were made by well-escorted formations of Hur­ damaged for the loss of one Spitfire. ricane, Spitfire and U.S. Warhawk fighter-bom­ The following day, 10th April, British armour­ bers, and U.S. Marauders and U.S. Bostons flew ed units advanced along the Fondouk - Kairouan ten and 45 sorties respectively. The fighter- road and successfully engaged a force of enemy bombers concentrated particularly on troop car­ tanks south of Kairouan. On the 11th our arm- riers which were first bombed and then straffed; our routed another enemy tank force to the north the results observed indicated that numerous ve­ of the town; later in the day Kairouan was oc­ hicles, including petrol bowsers, were destroyed cupied and our forward units reached . or immobilised and many casualties inflicted on troops. The Marauders attacked vehicle concen­ American aircraft of the Tactical Air Force trations on the coastal road from Sousse to Bou rendered support by attacks on enemy transport Ficha and scored hits on a supply dump and gun vehicles and communications. On the 10th, eleven emplacements. The Bostons, escorted by Spit­ Bostons bombed vehicles on the road near El fires, successfully attacked truck convoys approa­ Alem, north-east of Kairouan. The next day, 24 ching Enfidaville. Throughout the night the escorted Warhawk-bombers attacked enemy attacks on the enemy columns were continued by transport, including troop carriers, on the roads 59 Bisleys and four French Leo 45s. north-east of Kairouan, nine escorted Bostons On the 11th, the attacks were renewed by two attacked vehicles north of El Alem and twelve escorted formations of Hurricane and U.S. War- escorted Bostons bombed a bridge in the same hawk fighter-bombers and over area. Our Threat From Medjez aircraft and the upper flight destroyed eight of The threat to the enemy did not come from the the enemy fighters. south only. While the Allied armies were ad­ Shortly after noon, eighteen U.S. Mitchells of vancing in the southern and central sectors our the Strategic Air Force, escorted by 21 U.S. land forces operating north-west of Medjez el Bab Lightnings, on a shipping sweep ten miles north were making steady progress. Spectacular ad­ of , intercepted a formation of 25 vances, however, could not be expected in such JU.52s, accompanied' by a number of JU.88s, mountainous country. M.E.llOs, JU.87s and ME. 109s, heading for Tunis. On 9th April Chaouach was captured and the The Mitchells shot down ten JU.52s and two next day an advance was also made in the high JU.88s without loss to themselves, and the Light­ ground south-east of Medjez. The enemy realis­ nings destroyed ten more JU.52s, a JU.88, a ed the seriousness of our threat and rushed up ME.110 and a ME.109. One Lightning collided his best remaining reserves in the northern with the ME.110 and crashed. Most of the trans­ sector. In spite of the enemy's increased re­ port aircraft attacked burst into flames and ex­ sistance, however, our troops had pushed north­ ploded, indicating that they were carrying oil and wards to Djebel Ang by the 15th. Thereafter petrol which were more than ever urgently re­ our advance was halted for a time. quired by the Axis' forces after the battle of The Allied air activity over the Medjez area Akarit. during the first fortnight in April consisted prin­ In addition to the two operations recounted cipally of fighter sweeps and tactical and pho­ above, R.A.F. Spitfires of the Tactical Air Force tographic reconnaissances by R.A.P. Spitfires of on a fighter sweep in the Tunis - Bizerta area the Tactical Air Force. In the absence of large shot down four more JU.52s. Two Spitfires fail­ concentrations of enemy vehicles the Allied ed to return. bombers were not required to render close sup­ The following morning, 11th April, nineteen port to our land forces; ground attacks, how­ U.S; Lightnings of the Strategic Air Force, dur­ ever, were delivered by R.A.F. Hurricane-bom­ ing a fighter sweep over the Sicilian Straits, bers and Spitfires whenever suitable targets met about 20 JU.52s and an unidentified transport could be located. aircraft, with an escort of miscellaneous aircraft, The Spitfires' most successful interceptions off Cape Bon en route to Tunis. All 21 transports over the Medjez area occurred on 7th April. and five other enemy aircraft were destroyed During the afternoon twelve Spitfires were within a few minutes. Three Lightnings were scrambled to intercept fifteen JU.87s, escorted lost in this encounter. by ME.109s, north-west of Oued Zarga. On Later in the morning, another U.S. Lightning sighting the Spitfires, the Stukas jettisoned their formation shot down five JU.52s south of bombs and in the ensuing combats five of them Marettimo Island for the loss of one Lightning. were destroyed, four probably destroyed and one Thus, on 10th and 11th April, at the time when damaged. A few minutes later, twelve Spitfires the Axis armies were being pushed back into of No. 232 Squadron, on a fighter sweep over the Tunisian Tip, 71 enemy transport and eighteen Medjez, sighted three more Stukas and shot them escorting aircraft were destroyed. This further down. After this engagement the Squadron massacre of the JU.52s seriously hindered the turned southwards to Pont du Fahs, where two enemy's attempt to rush in supplies to his hard- more Stukas were seen; one of the enemy dive- pressed Tunisian forces. bombers was destroyed- and the other was damag­ Sinking of the "Trieste" ed. In the above-mentioned combats there were no Spitfire casualties. At the beginning of April there were three heavy cruisers, each with a standard displace­ During the last week in April our threat from ment of 10,000 tons and having a main battery Medjez became more serious. The heavy fight­ of 8 inch guns, left in the Italian navy—the ing which then broke out in this area is referred "Trieste", "Gorizia" and "Bolzano". The last- to on page 21. named ship, however, had been previously damag­ ed and was undergoing repairs. Massacre of Enemy's Air Transport Continued Following reports received from the North­ While the enemy was retreating from the south west African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing and was being hard pressed in the central and that the heavy cruisers "Trieste" and "Gorizia" northern sectors the plan for .dislocating the were located at La Maddalena Naval Base, enemy's air transport system was again put info Northern Sardinia, three attacks were made by operation. U.S. Fortresses of the Strategic Air Force on During the morning of 10th April a fighter 10th April. sweep was made over the Sicilian Straits by In all, 84 effective Fortress sorties were carried U.S. Lightnings of the Strategic Air Force in out: the first two formations comprising 60 air­ two flights, twelve aircraft on the deck and eight craft dropped a total of 360 x 1,000 lb. (.1 and at 1,000 feet. A formation of about 50 JU.52s, .025 delay) bombs on the two cruisers and the with a fighter cover of approximately fifteen remaining bombers dropped 287 x 500 lb (.1 and MC.200S and FW.190S, was encountered. The .025 delay) bombs on the submarine base and lower flight of Lightnings shot down 20 transport harbour installations. Both cruisers received 1H several direct hits and near mis | Where the "Bolzano" was caused the sinking of the "Trieste" and damage being repaired. Attacks on this port were then to the "Gorizia". made by aircraft of the R.A.F. Bomber Command Three days later, on 13th April, three U.S. on the night 13/14th April. Lightnings of the Strategic Air Force made a Thus, due to the successful attacks of the further attack on the "Gorizia" dropping three Strategic Air Force on the 10th and 13th April 1,000 lb. (.1 and .025 delay) bombs from 3,000 the Italian fleet was left without a single service­ feet. One hit on the cruiser's stern and two able heavy cruiser. near misses were scored. The other successful shipping strikes by air­ The "Gorizia", although badly damaged by the craft of the North-west African Air Forces dur­ Fortress and Lightning attacks, managed to ing April are dealt with on pages 22 to 24.

The "Trieste" protected by tor

14 The Blitz on Tunisian Airfields Marie du Zit, Oudna, Korba, As a result of the withdrawal to Enfidaville liman and Megrine (Fochville) now acquirer! in­ and his loss of territory in the Kairouan area the creased importance. Advantage was accordingly enemy was obliged to abandon at least 22 landing taken of the lull m the ground fighting to deliver grounds in the southern and central sectors. heavy air attacks on these landing grounds, so Many unserviceable aircraft were perforce left that the enemy's air effort would be at a mini­ behind in the lost areas; the remainder was trans­ mum when the final battle commenced. Aircraft ferred principally to landing grouds which already under the operational control of the Western De­ existed, or were hastily prepared, in the rear of sert Air Force concentrated solely on the landing the Enfidaville defences and in the Cape Bon pe­ grounds in N.E. Tunisia while the North-west ninsula. In particular1, the landing grounds at St, African Air Forces attacked the main air bases at BisefW eRKTfunis in addition to these landing weather caused the cancellation of operations, the grounds. enemy's landing grounds received nightly visits Apart from an attack on Enfidaville landing from our bombers. In the course of the twelve ground by eighteen U.S. Mitchells on 10th April nights bombers under the operational control of and one on Korba south landing ground by 35 the Western Desert Air Force flew four heavy, R.A.F. Baltimores and eighteen U.S. Mitchells on 423 medium and 168 light bomber effective sorties the 19th, all the attacks of the Western Desert against the enemy's landing grounds in N.E. Tu­ Air Force light bombers and heavy and medium nisia. The heaviest attacks were delivered bombers of No. 205 Group were carried out at against the airfields at St. Marie du Zit and night. From the night 10/llth to 23/24th April, Korba. Against the former, where dive-bombers with the exception Qf two occasions when bad as well as fighters were based, two heavy, 140

ste" after bombing.

16 medium and 105 light bomber sorties were made, to. Accordingly, apart from the heavy' and against the latter 101 medium and seventeen attacks on airfield (near Tunis) and light bomber sorties. Other landing grounds at­ Sidi Ahmed airfield (Bizerta) the weight of the tacked included those at Creteville, Menzel Temi­ attacks were against the landing grounds at Prot­ me and 8 oilman. ville (northwest of Tunis), Mabtouha (west of Although there was sometimes difficulty in lo­ Protville), La Sebala (north-west of Tunis) and cating the target and haze and low cloud often Creteville (south-east of Tunis). hampered the observation of results, it was ' La Marsa and Sidi Ahmed were each attacked evident from the fires and explosions caused and by 23 U.S. Fortresses, escorted by Spitfires; an­ the subsquent reports of reconnaissance aircraft other Fortress formation which set out later to that considerable damage was inflicted on dis­ bomb Sidi Ahmed encountered solid overcast from persed aircraft, petrol dumps, buildings and run­ 8,000 to 28,000 feet over the target and was oblig­ ways. ed to abandon the mission. During the attacks Meanwhile, from the 11th to 22nd/33rd April on La Marsa and Sidi Ahmed bomb bursts were attacks were being delivered on the enemy's land­ observed in each case all over the target area ing grounds, both by day and night, by the North­ and at Sidi Ahmed, where visibility was good in west African Air Forces. The night attacks were the morning, many fires were seen. An exami­ delivered principally by Bisleys and the day at­ nation by N.A.C.I.U. of the results achieved in tacks by American bombers—Fortresses, Mit­ the attacks on the 20th revealed that the attack chells, Marauders, and Bostons. In addition, two on La Marsa airfield was the most successful of attacks were delivered by Hurricane and U.S. the whole series. Meanwhile, U.S. Mitchells made Warhawk fighter-bombers. Cover and escort for four attacks on the landing grounds at Mabtou­ the day bombers was provided by Spitfires of the ha, La Sebala and Protville and U.S. Marauders Tactical Air Force. attacked Creteville landing ground. A feature of the Fortress and Mitchell attacks was the dropp­ With the exception of one attack on Megrine ing of thousands of pamphlets, chiefly in German, (Fochville) airfield by nineteen Wellingtons on in the target areas. The most frequent attacks 12/13th April and a few sorties by French Leo during the day, however, were carried out by 45s, the North-west African ^ Air Forces' night escorted formations of U.S. Bostons, which main­ attacks were carried out by Bisleys, which flew tained a shuttle-service principally against the approximately 150 ^effective sorties. The Bisleys' landing grounds in the Mabtouha and Protville main targets were the landing grounds at La areas. In general, although some of the landing Sebala and La Marsa but their heaviest, and per­ grounds were difficult to locate, the results haps most successful, attack was that on Sidi achieved were good and .many hits and near misses Ahmed (Bizerta) airfield during the clear night were scored on aircraft on the ground. Qf 19/20th April, when -56 effective sorties were flown. The excellent work of the escorting Spitfires From 11th to 19th April a daily average of two is shown by the fact that only one Mitchell fail­ U.S. Mitchell formations (each of eighteen air­ ed to return and another forced-landed; neither craft) made attacks and these were supplemented casualty, however, appeared to be due to enemy on several days by U.S. Marauder and U.S. Bos­ air action. In combats with the enemy the es­ ton attacks; the bombers were escorted by Spit­ corting Spitfires shot down at least six fighters fires in all case. Oudna landing ground, south and probably destroyed several more; four Spit­ of Turns, was the main target, but the landing fires were reported missing. In addition to pro­ grounds at St. Marie du Zit and La Sebala also viding escort for the bomber formations through­ received attention. In addition, on the 14th, out the day, Spitfires of the Tactical Air Force 24 U.S. Fortresses attached El Aouina. (Tunis) flew nine fighter sweeps aggregating 162 sorties. airfield, dropping 2,742 x 20 lbs. fragmentation In all, on 20th April, aircraft of the North-west bombs. In practicallly all the attacks the land­ African Strategical and Tactical Air Forces flew ing grounds were covered with bursts and many over 1,000 sorties. The attacks seriously limited fires were caused. Enemy fighter opposition the enemy's air effort at a critical period: during was slight, but on several occasion damage was the remaining weeks of the campaign the ene­ inflicted on the bombers by intense flak. my's Tunisian airfields were attacked on a num­ ber of occasions but heavy concerted attacks The North-west African Air Forces' attacks were never again necessary. reached their climax on 20th April, when an all- out effort was made to pin down and destroy Further Blows to Enemy's Air Transport enemy aircraft during the vnith Army's attack recounted on page 18. Throughout the day co­ During the latter half of April fighters of the ordinated attacks were made by heavily-escorted Western Desert Air Force carried out a series formations of bombers and fighter-bombers. The of attacks which virtually gave the coup de gra­ enemy had now withdrawn many aircraft from ce to the enemy's Mediterranean air transport his landing grounds immediately behind the Enfi­ system. davtile defences and in the Cape Bon peninsula On the afternoon of the 18th, 46 U.S. War- and had dispersed them on numerous landing hawks, with R.A.F. Spitfires as high cover, on grounds in the territory between Turns and Bizer­ offensive patrol ,pver the Gulf qf Tunis* intercept­

17 ed about 100 JU.52s, strongly escorted by" "ahS" eight ME.323 trips were made daily, re­ fighters, heading north-east near Cape Bon. In presenting the transport of 455 tons per day. all, 74 enemy aircraft were shot down, compris­ During the second half of April it was estimated ing 58 JU.52s, fourteen ME.109s and 110s and that the enemy required a minimum of 40,000 two MC.202s. The beaches and sea were litter­ tons of supplies monthly to sustain his effort in ed with wreckage and eighty per cent of the air­ Tunisia. If the enemy's transport aircraft sorties craft shot down burst into flames. Allied los­ had been maintained on the scale mentioned ses were six U.S. Warhawks and one Spitfire. above nearly a third of the minimum tonnage The following day, 19th April, formations of could have been transported by air. In the last Kittyhawks and U.S. Warhawks, with a Spitfire week of April, however, the enemy's air trans­ top cover, again carried out fighter sweeps over port traffic had practically ceased as a result the Gulf of Tunis with the object of intercepting of the attacks mentioned in the preceding para­ enemy transport aircraft. About 20 well-escort­ graphs and on pages 7 and 13. Ilie risk had ed JU.52s were encountered in the early morn­ to be taken of transporting more and more ing: twelve of the transport aircraft and three supplies by sea. The Allied air attacks on the of the escort were destroyed and four more JU. Axis shipping and ports, which prevented a large 52s and one S.79 were probably destroyed. We part of the supplies and reinforcements from lost one Kittyhawk. As a result of subsequent reaching the enemy's forces, are dealt with on engagements with smaller formations of enemy pages 22 to 28 and 30. aircraft, one JU.87 towing a glider and one JU. 88 and two ME.109S were destroyed, one JU.87 Enemy Resistance on Villth Army Front was probably destroyed and one ME.109 damag­ During the night 19/20th April the VIHth ed. Five Spitfires and two U.S. Warhawks did Army launched an attack on the enemy's Enfida­ not return from these later operations. ville positions. The enemy's chief centres of re­ These further blows gainst the enemy's JU.52s sistance were the Takrouna Hill and the Djebel practically stopped their traffic by day; during Garci. Takrouna Hill, on account of its preci­ the remander of the campaign their main em­ pitous sides, proved a difficult obstacle; the ployment was by night and on a limited scale enemy units holding it, in fact, had had to use only. Night-flying Hurricanes and Beaufighters rope ladders in some places to scale the rocks. then made these night trips exceedingly hazar­ For two days the enemy resisted stubbornly, but dous. by the 22nd the feature was entirely in our hands. In view of the heavy land fighting mentioned Meanwhile, Enfidaville, which was not strongly in the following pages, the enemy was now in held, was occupied by our troops on the 20th and the utmost need of supplies, particularly fuel. As patrols were pushed out in the flat country to a result of the Allied fighters' successful attacks the north. , on 18th and 19th April, the enemy feared to risk The attack on Djebel Garci proved even more his depleted JU.52 force for the transportation difficult than that on Takrouna Hill. In spite of supplies; on the other hand, the requirements of fierce enemy counter-attacks our land forces of his Tunisian forces were too pressing to be retained their hold on the southern slopes but entrusted entirely to sea-transport, which, more­ the enemy, who were mainly Italians, continued over, was susceptible to both naval and air at­ to occupy the summit and northern side. tacks. The Villth Army's initial attack, unlike those The decision was taken to rush in immediate of the previous six months, was not preceded or supplies and reinforcements by ME.323s. The supported by heavy air attacks. Reconnaissances enemy's venture failed entirely, however, as this of the enemy's positions were carried out by No. heavily escorted formation of 31 huge transport 40 Squadron S.A.A.F. and fighter-bombers of the aircraft was intercepted over the Gulf of Tunis Western Desert Air Force made a few armed on 22nd April by an offensive patrol of two and reconnaissances without incident; there were no a half squadrons of Spitfires and five squadrons concentrations of transport and enemy positions of Kittyhawks. All the ME.323s were shot down were concealed in difficult country. In addition, and nine ME.109s, one MC.202 and one RE.2001 low cloud over the battle area further limited were also destroyed. These successes were gain­ offensive operations. During these days a better ed for loss of four Kittyhawks. Most of the dividend was paid by the attacks on the enemy's ME.322s were obviously carrying petrol as they landing grounds and air transport already con­ immediately burst into flames when attacked. sidered. The enemy thus lost the greater part of his total ME.323 force in a single day. When enemy resistance" stiffened on the Djebel Garci, however, the Western Air Force Allied The seriousness of the loss to the enemy of at light bombers and fighter-bombers carried out least 70 JU.52s and 31 ME.323s at this juncture attacks on the enemy's gun emplacements and can hardly be over-emphasised. The load of a dug-in positions. During this period, however, JU.52 making the Sicily to Tunis trip was ap­ the principal employment of the fighter-bomber proximately two and a half tons and that of a force, was in attacks on enemy shipping In or ME.323 approximately ten tons. In the early near the Gulf of Tunis." The success achieved days of April an estimated average of 150 JU.52 in this activity is Indicated on page 23. Korba landing ground (south) during an attack by Allied aircraft on 29th April, 1943.

19 THONARA PECHERIt

BOATS

WRECKED DESTROYER

^ west of Cape Bon. The six crash­ JU.S2s, circled in white, are some of the 58 transport aircraft shot down on ISth April, 1943. The Allies Advance any further During the last ten days in April, while the stalemate continued on the VTIIth Army's front, .The last week in April was a period of solid fighting flared up along the rest of the front in if, at first glance, unspectacular gains. To a the northern sector. The North-west African considerable degree our successes were due to Tactical Air Force gave the fullest support to the air operations mentioned in the following the simultaneous attacks of our land forces and paragraphs. The Allied armies were now ready covered the entire northern sector battlefield. to make their final attacks which eliminated the Owing to the innumerable targets attacked in Axis forces in Tunisia. all battle areas it is beyond the scope of this short account to relate each air attack to the Air Support appropriate land thrust. A clearer picture in While the land operations mentioned in the this instance can lae given by first mentioning the previous section were proceeding the North-west main attacks of .the Allied armies and then in­ African Air Forces carried out their heaviest air dicating the scale and direction of the air effort. attacks to date against military targets. A summary of these air operations is given in the following section. On 21st and 22nd April light bombers and fighter-bombers flew nearly 250 sorties, medium On the night 20/21st April, in order to bombers 24 sorties, and fighters over 700 sorties forestall an expected British advance, the Her­ on offensive sweeps, tactical reconnaissances and man Goering Armoured Division launched an bomber escort duries. Most of the air attacks attack in the plain between Medjez were in support of our land forces in the Medjez and Sidi Mahmoud*. The enemy employed three area. In particular, on the 21st, R.A.F. Bostons battalions of infantry supported by 50 to 70 tanks. attacked enemy positions to the north-east of Heavy fighting took place by moonlight, but the Medjez and to the south-east at Longstop Hill. enemy made little progress and lost 30 tanks. On the following day, R.A.F. and U.S. Bostons Desultory fighting took place on the, 21st, but attacked the Longstop Hill positions ; troops, it was evident that the 1st Army had the si­ camps, and a suspected headquarters at Ksar tuation well in hand long before the day drew Tyr, east of Medjez; enemy positions in the Crich to a close. The following day our land forces el Oued area, north-east of Medjez; and build­ counter-attacked in the area between Goubellat ings at Ain el Asker, south-east of Ksar Tyr. On and . In the north of this sector good several occasions fires and explosions were re­ progress was made, but in the south strong re­ ported. On the same day U.S. Mitchells made sistance was encountered and fierce tank battles two attacks on a suspected headquarters eleven were fought. The enemy then reinforced his miles north-east of Pont du Fahs and R.A.F. and positions in the Djebel Bou Kournine area, and U.S. Bostons also attacked enemy positions in stopped any further advance during April. the same, area. Meanwhile, on 23rd April, our troops operating The next day, 23rd April, the fighter-bomber east of Medjez had pushed along the Medjerda and light bomber effort rose to approximately valley and occupied. Crich el Oued. Heidous, 260 sorties, medium bombers flew 52 sorties and north of Medjez, was captured two days later. fighters, in addition to bomber escort and tactical Enemy resistance then stiffened; east of Medjez reconnaissance commitments, carried out sixteen we were held up by the Sidi Abdullah feature Spitfire sweeps over the entire battle area. In and enemy tank reinforcements prevented further addition to increased attacks in the areas men­ progress in the Medjerda valley sector. tioned above a considerable part of the bombing U.S. forces were also on the move. As part of and straffing effort was directed to helping the the preparations for our general offensive aimed American land forces advancing towards Mateur. at breaking through the enemy's Enfidaville-Pont Escorted U.S. Mitchells effectively bombed the du Fahs - Medjez el Bab - Sedjenane perimeter marshalling yards at Mateur and tracks east of at several points, the American 2nd Corps had the town and escorted U.S. Marauders attacked moved across the 1st Army's communications and targets along the Beja - Mateur road. U.S. War- had taken over the northern sector. The Ame­ hawks made low-flying bombing and straffing ricans made good progress along the axis of the attacks over the entire northern battlefield and, Beja-Mateur road and in the coastal area. The in particular, many "targets of opportunity" were enemy's forces in the latter area, particularly, located near Sidi Nsir, south-west of Mateur, and had been weakened in order to strengthen his Jefna, west of Mateur. The main R.A.F. and vulnerable central front and accordingly in the U.S. Bostons effort, supplemented by two U.S. early days of May the rate of the American ad­ Mitchell attacks, was directed to close support vance was accelerated. in the Medjez sector, with enemy positions at Ksar Tyr as the primary objective, but targets - On the vmth Army's left flank, at the north­ south of Beja and in the Pont du Fahs sector ern end of the Grande Dorsale, French troops were also attacked. In the latter area attacks advanced on 24th April with little opposition on gun emplacements were particularly effective. from the enemy, who withdrew towards Pont du Fahs. By the 28th our Allies had crossed the l, adverse Pont du Fahs - Enfidaville road; from that! ff»«but a number fighter sweeps were made over a attack. Above all, the moral influence was wide area in the course of which gun emplace­ enormous. Enemy troops were on edge and ments, troops and transport were successfully hampered in their movements while the Allied attacked. armies could move freely, knowing that attacks With the improvement in the weather tne from the air were extremely unlikely. Tactical Air Force attacks during the next four It was evident that the Allied fighters were days, 25th to 28th April inclusive, were inten­ complete masters of the air over the battlefield. sified. Over 700 sorties were flown by bombers Few enemy fighters could be spared for low- and fighter-bombers and Spitfires maintained flying attacks or patrols over the battle area as complete supremacy over the entire battle area. the comparatively small enemy fighter force now On the 25th, U.S. Warhawks bombed and left in Tunisia was more urgently neded to pro­ straffed military targets over a wide area; in tect shipping in the Gulf of Tunis which had to particular, their attacks on transport and fortifi­ run the gauntlet of our naval and air attacks. ed hill positions in the Mateur sector were Combats were therefore few. On the 21st, enemy especially successful. The R.A.F. and U.S. Bos­ fighter-bombers were prevented from attacking tons, meanwhile, concentrated mainly on enemy our troops in the Medjez area and in this and positions to the north of Pont du Fahs and they other combats during the day three FW.190s and were helped in this activity by Hurricane-bombers. three ME.109s were destroyed and two ME.109s The following day, the Allied light bombers' probably destroyed for the loss of two Spitfires. principal effort was directed against tank and On the 23rd one FW.190 and five ME.109s were transport concentrations near Ksar Tyr, in the destroyed and one FW.190 probably destroyed Medjez area, and U.S. Mitchells delivered an ef­ without loss. Thereafter, even fewer combats fective attack on the marshalling yards at took place until during the last two days of the Mateur. On the 27th, R.A.F. and U.S. Bostons month one encounter only with enemy aircraft made many effective attacks on enemy concen­ over the battle area was reported. trations in the Medjez area", particularly in the The Allied armies now preparing to make their vicinity of Ksar Tyr; U.S. Warhawks attacked final attacks were assured of complete local air tanks and transport, especially in the Pont du supremacy in every sector. Moves of whole Fahs sector; and Hurricane-bombers attacked a formations on a few roads and the massing of variety of targets west of and tanks troops at selected points of attacks could ac­ near Ksar Tyr. The main effort on the 28th was cordingly be made with every chance of tactical again the Allied light bombers attacks on enemy surprise. positions at Ksar Tyr, with subsidiary attacks against concentrations to the north at St. Cyprien. Attacks on Central Mediterranean Shipping The weather had deteriorated somewhat on tne As was emphasised in a previous issue of the 29th and 30th and our light bomber and low R.A.F. Middle East Review, the campaign in flying attacks were reduced; in all, U.S. Mitchells Tunisia was above all a war of supplies. From flew 36 sorties and Allied light bombers and November, 1942, the enemy's Tunisian forces had fighter-bombers approximately 145 sorties. A been sustained by a flow of supplies borne by feature of the attacks on the 29th was the ac­ sea and air transport from Sicily/Italy; from the curate bombing of enemy positions and tanks beginning of 1943 Rommel's retreating army also near Ksar Tyr: our land forces in the vicinity drew from the enemy's Tunisian bases. It follow­ reported that the bombing was extremely ac­ ed that once this flow of supplies was stemmed curate and greatly assisted their operations. The Axis resistance in Tunisia would become an im­ light bombers, meanwhile, paid most attention practicability. to enemy positions at Derdouri. On the follow­ Mention has already been made of the Allied ing day U.S. Warhawks attacked gun positions air attacks which succeeded in dislocating the in the Mateur sector and R.A.F. and U.S. Bostons enemy's air transport system: in April, also, the and U.S. Mitchels attacked the enemy's positions Royal Navy's and Allied air forces' attacks on near Ksar Tyr and concentrations further north enemy shipping were intensified and these suc­ around Furna. ceeded in depriving the enemy of vital supplies, In addition to the above-mentioned attacks, particularly fuel, during the most critical phase Bisleys on several occasions made night attacks of the land battle. on roads and transport. The results of the at­ The aircraft employed on counter-shipping tacks were, in the main, unobserved through missions by day in the Sicilian Narrows and poor visibility, but the attacks undoubtedly Tyrrhenian Sea from the African mainland were hampered the enemy's night movements. U.S. heavy and medium bombers and U.S. and It is impossible to estimate the total material R.A.F. fighter-bombers; in general, the bomber damage inflicted in the course of these attacks. and fighter-bomber formations had strong fighter Most of the operations were carried out over escort. mountainous country and often in cloudy weather. U.S. Fortresses were employed against shipping On many occasions when fires and explosions in harbours and less regularly against large con­ were not observed it was,reported that the bomb voys; in certain cases, also, operations were pattern was icarried out against pin-pointed sea targets as when the Italian heavy cruisers were a_ Ises were scored La Maddalena. Against vessels at sea high1 titude bombing was found to be extremely ef­ fective and it was estimated that the Fortresses JH1§S needed to drop on an average 28 tons of bombs H.Q. North-west" Africa Mwb*orces' assessment to sink a medium-sized merchant ship. The usual of the damage inflicted on shipping was based formation of eighteen Fortresses could therefore on the following rules:— Ships were only claimed be expected, given favourable conditions, to sink as "sunk" when they were seen to explode or two vessels. sink; "severely damaged" implied that the vessel was last seen heavily listing, in a sinking posi­ U.S. Mitchells continued to be the aircraft most tion, or observed in flames; when direct hits generally used for day shipping sweeps, but dur­ were scored but other results were unobserved ing the month U.S. Lightning fighter-bombers the vessel was classed as " damaged"; near were employed on an increased scale against ships misses were ignored unless additional evidence and convoys at sea, but not, as a rule, against indicated that damage had been caused. The shipping in harbour. It became the practice also totals given below include vessels which received for some of the Lightnings which escorted the damage in attacks on harbours. medium bombers to carry bombs; having dropped Adverse weather conditions prevented shipping their bombs these fighters became part of the strikes being made during the first three days ordinary escort. Ships at sea were normally of April, but as a result of six air attacks during attacked from the rear. When a convoy was the next five days two vessels were sunk, eight sighted, each flight of six aircraft attacked one severely damaged, and eighteen damaged. The vessel, the aircraft being staggered at altitude vessels sunk were a destroyer blown up by U.S. intervals of 300 to 500 feet to provide freedom Mitchells on the 5th and a merchant vessel of of movement for evasive action. 6,000 tons, probably a munition carrier, blown In practically every case escorts for the heavy up by U.S. Fortresses on the 6th. The "severely and medium bombers employed in attacks on damaged" ships were principally merchant shipping were provided by U.S. Lightnings of vessels and barges left in flames. the Strategic Air Force. From 10th to 16th April two vessels were sunk, six severely damaged and seven damaged. The During April aircraft of the North-west African sinking of the Italian cruiser "Trieste" on the Air Forces delivered nine attacks on enemy 10th has already been dealt with on page 13 ; the shipping in the vicinity of Tunis, involving the other vessel sunk was a large barge blown up expenditure of nearly 238 tons of bombs, and by U.S. Lightnings on the 15th. The remaining carried out sixteen effective shipping sweeps, in casualties included merchant vessels hit by U.S. the course of which just under 161 tons of bombs Fortresses and smaller beached vessels attacked were dropped. Nearly 90% of the U.S. Fortress by U.S. Lightnings. sorties were effective as the heavy bombers were During the next week, 17th to 23rd April, briefed to attack shipping in harbours and select­ adverse weather conditions often prevented sight­ ed convoys or particular ships whose locations ings and successes against enemy shipping fell were known. Of the U.S. Mitchell and U.S. to one sunk, four severely damaged and five Lightning sorties, however, flown almost entirely damaged. in shipping sweeps, about 50% resulted in no at­ tacks being made due to lack of sightings, return The volume of enemy shipping to Tunisia in of escorting fighters owing to the jettisoning of the last week of April was on an increased scale. long-range tanks, and other causes. On several Apart from the fact that weather conditions occasions, however, when no enemy shipping was were favourable for the successful passage of sighted escorted Mitchell formations attacked shipping, it was imperative for the enemy to rush enemy aircraft en route to Tunis with consider­ in supplies in readiness for his last stand. The able success. In the course of several effective annihilation of the enemy's air transport also shipping attacks, also, casualties were inflicted necessitated the increased use of sea transport. on enemy aircraft escorting convoys. An all-out effort was made by aircraft of the North-west African Air Forces in attacks on In addition to the North-west African Air enemy shipping at sea. In particular, U.S. Light­ Forces' attacks, towards the end of April large nings successfully attacked Siebel ferry convoys formations of Kittyhawks and U.S. Warhawk on the 26th and 29th and U.S. Mitchells scored fighter-bombers of the Western Desert Air Force direct hits on two merchant vessels on the 28th had outstanding success in attacks on shipping and left a destroyer in a sinking condition on the in the Gulf of Tunis. 30th. The most successful attacks of the week, On a number of occasions during the month however, were those delivered by Kittyhawk and successful night shipping sweeps were carried U.S. Warhawk fighter-bombers of the Western out by Albacores of the North-west African Desert Air Force on shipping in the Gulf of Tunis Coastal Command. On the night 4/5th April during the last three days of the month. On one near misses were scored on an 8,000 ton mer­ day alone, 30th April, Kittyhawks and U.S. War- chant vessel; on the 10/llth near misses were hawks operating from Cape Bon to the Gulf of scored on a beached vessel; on the 1©/I7feh a, Tunis csank a destroyer, an_ escort vessel, a mer­ tanker was hit by torpedoes and left stationary; chant vessel of 1,000 tons, .a Siebel ferry, an ASSIFIED E-boat and an F-boat, apart from damage in­ aircraft against enemy shipping during April are flicted on other vessels. The total shipping mentioned in the article " Malta Prepares." losses inflicted on the enemy by the North-west Throughout the month, also, the Royal Navy African Air Forces (including the Western Desert made incessant attacks; the success achieved by Air Force) from 24th to 30th April as originally our surface vessels and submarines is indicated reported were:— one destroyer, three merchant in the article " The Fight for the Mediterranean,5' vessels, one Siebel ferry, two E-boats and two elsewhere in this number of " Review." F-boats sunk ; two destroyers, four merchant Our air and sea attacks on enemy shipping vessels and one E-boat severely damaged; and were not primarily aimed at the destruction ut four merchant vessels, two Siebel ferries, two his sea transport; it was a war against cargoes E-boats and two F-boats damaged. and troops. By the end of April the enemy was The final figures for the month of April, after in the utmost need of supplies and reinforce­ due adjustment in the light of photographic inter­ ments to support his hard-pressed land and air pretation respecting vessels located in harbour, forces, due to the success of our anti-shipping were 20 vessels sunk, sixteen severely damaged, attacks, our destruction of his air transport, and and 32 damaged. The successes of MaZfa-based our blasting of his supply ports.

ck a convoy off Bizerta "#*.*, %

leading ship disintegrates under.direct hits, and the second is damaged by near misses. the primary objectives have already been consi­ dered in the previous section. Supplemental^ &o:, t#^jsh>ppin;| Meanwhile, heavy attacks were being made by ! t Cyrenaican and North-west African-based aircraft tacls .^ni&sKippfngf 'in iTiajbour aW pn- *'t>eached against the main Axis ports of on-loading. Apart Sis ^already men&onea, air attacks were con- from the attacks of No.178 Squadron Liberators April against the Axis ports of off- and a few sorties by Wellingtons of the Strategic loading and on-loading. Air Force, all the attacks were delivered by day The general procedure for the enemy's small by American aircraft of the North-west African' and medium-sized merchant vessels and Siebel Air Forces and the Ninth U.S. Air Force. ferries was to load and depart principally from Naples, the Axis' main supply port, received Palermo, and Trapani and put in at the greatest attention from the Allied bombers. Bizerta, Tunis or ; cargoes for these Eighty-three effective sorties were carried out vessels were brought by rail and road down the against the port by Liberators of the Ninth U.S. west coast of Italy and taken by train ferries A.F., sixteen by Liberators of No. 178 Squadron, across to Messina and then to the Sicilian ports and 64 by U.S. Fortresses of the Strategic Air mentioned. Large' merchant vessels loaded Force. The Fortress sorties were all flown on chiefly at Naples and made the long sea-trip to 4th April, when more than 100 tons and appro­ the northern Tunisian ports. Some hugged the ximately 56 tons of bombs were dropped on coast of Sicily and made a quick dash to their shipping facilities and the marshalling yards, appointed port of off-loading; others took a cour­ respectively. Apart from the extensive damage se westwards towards Sardinia, to avoid the to the shipping in the harbour, the power and gas night strikes of MaZta-based aircraft, and made plants, barracks and docks were all hit. Over the longer last dash to Tunisia. half of the Middle East aircraft's total sorties During the month, the enemy employed shal­ were flown by U.S. Liberators on the 10th and low draught vessels such as E and F-boats on a 11th. Hits were scored on a torpedo boat and greatly increased scale. The (hilf of Tunis af­ merchant vessel and on the harbour moles and forded excellent beaches for the use of these ves­ quays; during the two attacks five enemy figh­ sels and they could make the passage to and ters were shot down, and seven probably destroy­ from Sicily over-night. Moreover, some mer­ ed for the loss of one Liberator. This aircraft chant vessels were being unloaded by lighters was destroyed by small bombs dropped from from off-shore anchorages. It followed that at­ above by enemy fighters. This was the first tacks on the installations of the northern Tuni­ success achieved by "air to air" bombing in the sian ports were not of such importance as Mediterranean area. hitherto. Palermo was attacked on three occasions from Wellingtons of the Strategic Air Force attack­ North-west Africa and five times from the Mid­ ed the docks and marshalling yards at Tunis on dle East; in all, 95 effective sorties were flown three occasions, during April, carrying out by U.S. Fortresses, 43 by U.S. Liberators and 50 effective sorties and dropping 117 tons of seven by R.A.F. Liberators. All the attacks of bombs. The Wellingtons also made two effecti­ the Strategic Air Force Fortresses were deliver­ ve attacks on Bizerta, dropping a total bomb ed on the 16th, 17th, and 18th; the examination load of nearly 56 tons. The medium bomber at­ of photographs taken during the attacks re­ tacks were delivered principally in the dark pe­ vealed that six vessels and the power station riod. "Path-finders" marked the target by drop­ had been hit, and in the attack on the marshal­ ping incendiary bombs and the remaining air­ ling yards on the 18th nearly all the bombs craft dropped their loads, including an appre­ burst in the target area. The attacks of the ciable number of 4,000 and 1,000 lb. bombs, in R.A.F. and U.S. Liberators were aimed primari­ the lit-up areas; large fires were caused on prac­ ly at inflicting damage on the quays and moles: tically every occasion. The most effective U.S. in practically every case direct hits were observ­ Fortresses attacks on Tunis and Bizerta were ed and many fires were started. made during the second week of the month: Messina was attacked six times by Middle eighteen effective sorties were flown against East-based aircraft during' April; thirteen effec­ Tunis and 27 against Bizerta. In addition, U.S. tive sorties were flown by R.A.F. Liberators and Fortresses made one very successful attack on 71 by U.S. Liberators. In particular, considera­ harbour facilities at Ferryville, comprising six­ ble damage was caused to train ferry berths, teen effective sorties. On several occasions, the building housing the operating gear and rail­ however, heavy bomber attacks on these ports way sidings. The attacks appreciably increased were abandoned owing to bad weather over the the enemy's difficulties in transmitting supplies target area. A feature of the above-mentioned from the Italian mainland to the Sicilian ports of attacks was the dropping of thousands of leaflets departure to Tunisia. in German, Italian and Arabic over a wide­ spread area. Trapani was attacked on three occasions dur­ ing April from North-west Africa; twice by The U.S. bomber attacks which had the des­ U.S. Fortresses and once by Wellingtons. The truction of shipping in the Tunisianjj^^purs as American heavy bombers flew 52 effective sor­

26 Inset shoivs Ferryville before attacks began. The large photograph shozvs the harbour after attack by U.S. Fortresses on 7th April, 1943.

&8» a*.\­

,

•if q • - , * i <, arbour; 88s and fighters were based), was attacked on on mer­ three occasions, Monseratto (where fighters were based) twice, and Elmas (a JU.88 base) and *%Towafrciis jfcheLdjjfliSdle*' of April it was discovered Villacidro (used by JU.88s and HE.llls) once .it-feat there ^was increased shipping activity at Ca­ each. tania. Accordingly, attacks .were delivered by It is impossible to give an accurate assessment Middle East Liberators; U.S. Liberators of the of the effect of these raids but observed results and R.A.F. Liberators flew 56 indicated that wide-spread damage was inflict­ and six effective sorties respectively. Hits were ed on aircraft on the ground, runways, hangars scored on shipping in the harbour, on the docks, nd buildings. Some idea of the damage caused and in the vicinity of the oil storage tanks and in these raids is given by photographic inter­ port railway station. pretation reports on two of the airfields attack­ ed. For example, on 13th April Milo and Castel­ In addition to the attacks on the supply ports vetrano airfields were attacked. The reports on mentioned above, a few sorties were carried out these attacks show that at Milo out of approxi­ by Middle East heavy bombers against the Ita­ lian bases at Bari, San Giovanni, Crotone, Co­ mately 120 aircraft on the ground at least four­ senza and Pizzo. Bombers of the Strategic Air teen received direct hits and fourteen others were Forces also attacked port facilities at Maddalena damaged; at Castelvetrano, of the 90 aircraft and Carloforte in Sardinia and Marsala harbour present at least three. ME.323s, seventeen other Sicily, on a few occasions during the month. transport planes, and 22 additional aircraft were hit. Even these estimates of damage are in­ The co-ordinated attacks of the Middle East complete as photographic cover and interpreta­ and North-west African Air Forces on the Axis tion cannot provide a complete assessment of da­ ports of off-loading and on-loading, convoys, and mage inflicted on aircraft bombed with fragmen­ air transport during April contributed greatly to tation bombs. the rapid collapse of the enemy's Tunisian for­ During the following week, 17th to 23rd April, ces which were left without sufficient supplies Bocca di Falco (Palermo) airfield was attacked to withstand our offensive launched in the first twice by U.S. Fortresses and Alghero airfield, week in May. Sardinia, once by U.S. Mitchells. On the former Attacks on Mediterranean Air Bases. nearly 84 tons of bombs were 'dropped and on In addition to the constant raids on the enemy's the latter a little over 10 tons. Photographic Tunisian landing grounds already considered, the interpretation revealed that ten aircraft, the fuel Allied air forces delivered heavy air attacks dur­ storage and explosive dumps, hangars and build­ ing April on the Axis air bases in Italy, Sicily ings were hit at Bocca di Falco and at least five and Sardinia. Apart from a devastating and a large hangar were hit at Alghero. on Bari airfield by Liberators of the Ninth Air In the last week of April, the Italian airfield Force the entire effort against the airfields was at Grosseto and Villacidro airfield, Sardinia, made by the North-west African Strategic Air were attacked by 43 and nineteen U.S. Fortresses Force. respectively. The results at Grosseto were main­ The attacks opened on 4th April when Capodi­ ly unobserved due to cloud over the target but chino airfield, near Naples, one of the main ba­ at Villacidro the airfield and revetments were re­ ses of the German air transport fleet, was at­ ported to be completely covered by bomb bursts.' tacked by 27 U.S. Fortresses. It was reported Photographic interpretation based on partial that 25 of the 50 aircraft seen on the ground cover only of Grosseto revealed that of 21 air­ were destroyed or damaged. On the following craft on the ground three were destroyed by di­ day, as part of the plan to dislocate the enemy's rect hits and at Villacidro it was evident that air transport system, the Sicilian airfields at three medium bombers were destroyed and one Bocca di Falco (Palermo) and Milo (Trapani) damaged, and previously damaged aircraft were were attacked: these attacks have already been also hit. In addition, damage was caused to considered on page 9. buildings and anti-aircraft posts. Decimoman­ nu airfield was also attacked by 24 Wellingtons. During the week 10th to 16th April, when over A great explosion and several fires were caused 70 JU.52s were shot down in air combat, heavy in the target area. attacks were made on the Axis airfields in order to destroy aircraft (particularly transport types) The Ninth U.S. Air Force's attack on the Ita­ on the ground. In all, U.S. Fortresses flew 100 lian air base at Bari was carried out on 26th and Wellingtons 43 effective sorties. A total April by 62 Liberators, which dropped 234 x 500 bomb load of nearly 200 tons was dropped on lb. and 1,008 x 20 lb. fragmentation bombs. Direct these targets; the types of bombs used varied hits were seen on all hangars, which were left from 20 lb. fragmentation to 4,000-sjMJunders and in flames, and the whole of the airfield was co­ included a large number of dej ion types, vered by bomb bursts. Fires and explosions In Sicily, Castelvetrano ransport were also caused in the dispersal areas and and torpedo-bomber !ransport among oil tanks. aircraft intermedia! were at­ tacked; in The above-mentioned air attacks on the Medi­ (where JU. terranean airfields, together with the attacks on

28 Attack on Xaplrs by ('S. Liberators on 2X//? April, 1943. the enemy's Tunisian landing grounds previously Agadir to Tunisia. On the offensive side, Ma­ mentioned, played a considerable part in the rauders and Beaufighters by day and Hudsons achievement of the Allies' air supremacy in the and Albacores by night (in co-operation with Central Mediterranean theatre of \Var. Malta-based aircraft) watched the enemy's ship­ ping lanes. On the basis of the information si­ The Coastal Air Force gnalled back the air and naval staffs briefed While the operations recounted in the foregoing forces against the enemy shipping sighted. When pages were in progress aircraft of the North­ co-operating with naval forces our aircraft often west African Coastal Air Force carried out its remained and shadowed enemy vessels to the many and diverse duties. By the use of air limit of endurance and in the face of attacks by power in the closest co-operation with sea power enemy fighter escorts. The shipping strikes at the Allies now controlled the sea-ways of the night carried out by Fleet Air Arm Albacores Central Mediterranean. under N.A.C.A.F. control are mentioned on page On the defensive side, fighter protection was 23. provided for our convoys; anti-submarine patrols N.A.C.A.F. fighters had comparatively few were constantly flown; fighter protection was decisive combats with enemy aircraft. There is given to our ports, harbours and land commu­ no doubt, however, that the enemy was deter- nications; and air-sea rescue work was under­ our ship- taken. The coastal area covered stretched of the op­ position always awaiting During these four days, also, escorted fighter was done, in particular, by night-flying Beau­ bombers of the Western Desert Air Force, which fightersV. The following are three of the April made extensive offensive reconnaissances of the "high-lights". On the evening of 18th April Gulf of Tunis, also met with little success, due abdnt fifteen JU.88s attacked . Four to bad visibility, although a beached destroyer, Beaufighters were scrambled to intercept them. previously damaged, was attacked and the jetties Three of the enemy aircraft were destroyed and in the Cape Bon peninsula were effectively one probably destroyed. In the early morning of bombed. 21st April fifteen JU.88s approached a convoy On 5th May the weather improved and the off Algiers. Their attack was broken up by Strategic Air Force shipping sweeps paid a di­ Beaufighters and the convoy sustained no da­ vidend again. Twenty-seven escorted U.S. Fort­ mage; in addition, four of the JU.88s were des­ resses covered the Sicilian Straits and southern troyed. During the last week in April, in an part of the Tyrrhenian Sea. A large merchant attempt to lessen the danger of interception by vessel, presumably carrying munitions, exploded Allied fighters, bases in Sardinia were used for when attacked and smoke and flames were seen the first time as intermediate landing grounds rising from it for 60 miles on the Fortresses' for enemy transport aircraft. Small formations return journey. Escorted U.S. Mitchells encoun­ then made the journey to Northern Tunisia in tered an unescorted convoy of one medium and the early morning. Beaufighters made this a two small merchant vessels, west of Marettimo hazardous proceeding. Just before dawn on 30th Island; one small merchant vessel was sunk, the April a Beaufighter operating from Bone was other damaged and the largest ship was left in vectored on to JU.52s flying north-west 30 miles flames. Escorted U.S. Marauders during the day south of . The Beaufighter destroyed scored direct hits on a beached merchant vessel five of the enemy transport aircraft in ten minu­ east of Cape Zebib. A by-product of another tes; four of them exploded in the air and the escorted U.S. Mitchell sweep was the destruction other crashed into the sea. The total score of of six SM.82s and three escorting fighters for the night fighter squadrons during the six months the loss of two escorting U.S. Lightnings. Mean­ of the was 100 enemy aircraft while, escorted Kittyhawks and Warhawk fight­ destroyed. er-bombers of the Western Desert Air Force con­ The achievement of both defensive and offen­ tinued their offensive reconnaissances over the sive sides of the Coastal Air Force should not be Gulf of Tunis and off Cape Bon. Direct hits judged only according to the number of enemy were scored on two merchant vessels and the submarines, aircraft or ships destroyed. It is Cape Bon peninsula jetties were bombed. Two more truly indicated by the safe arrivals of our ME.109s were shot down in combat. own convoys, without which our armies and air On the 5th, also, U.S. Fortresses flew 26 and forces would have been ineffective, and the help 27 sorties against Tunis harbour and La Goulet­ given to our naval and air forces which resulted te harbour, respectively. At Tunis, damage was in the destruction or turning back of enemy caused to the phosphate and south quays and supplies. marshalling yards and leaflets in German were The activity of the Middle East formations dropped; at La Goulette, hits were scored on which controlled the sea ways from the Turkish shipping and bombs burst in the barracks, oil to the Tunisian borders is mentioned on page 38. storage and oil loading areas. On the following day, 6th May, the attacks of Attacks on Shipping and Ports Continued the Strategic Air Force met with even greater In readiness for the decisive battles recounted success and also prevented troops escaping from in the following pages the enemy, during the first Tunisia. U.S. Lightning-bombers sank three weefc in May, continued to make desperate ef­ Siebel ferries and four other small boats, and a forts to push across supplies to the Northern few minutes later U.S. Marauders sank three Tunisian ports. Although, as shown below, his Siebel ferries and damaged five other small ves­ shipping losses were heavy, considerable tonnage sels. All the vessels attacked were filled with was unloaded at the ports. In addition to some troops and heading for Sicily at points 30 to 45 small merchant vessels many Siebel ferries and miles south-west of Marettimo Island. Later in T.L.Cs made the passage from the western Si­ the morning escorted U.S. Mitchells sank another cilian harbours during the week, but towards the Siebel ferry and damaged others in the same end of it this traffic was disrupted by successful area as the above-mentioned attacks, but this air attacks. time the vessels were heading for Tunisia. For the first four days of May bad weather Meanwhile, attacks were made on the western and poor visibility prevented U.S. Lightning figh­ Sicilian ports of Marsala, Trapani, and Favigna­ ter-bombers and U.S. Marauders and Mitchells, na, whence shallow-draught vessels were making which carried out several shipping sweeps^ the dash to Northern Tunisia. At Marsala, 21 making sightings. An attack by escorted U.S. Fortresses scored hits and near on shipping facilities at misses on six Siebel ferries and two medium ed largely sized merchant vessels, a merchant vessel was probably sunk and another was left burning. At Favignana, 36 escorted U.S. Mitchells scored PerhapsthB Htdtfr^YpeflActfgess of near misses on two merchant vessels and dock our sea and air blockade is provllJfcfc^Pe fact installations were hit. At Trapani, attacks were that in the last days of the campaign the enemy's delivered by 28 escorted U.S. Fortresses against stocks of artillery ammunition were exhausted the docks, naval base, marshalling yards and oil and the total amount of M.T. and diesel fuel left storage. The entire target area was left in fla­ in stock at the completion of the final battles mes and emitting black smoke. was 40 tons only. Other damage was inflicted by medium bom­ bers and fighter-bombers of the Strategic Air Prelude to Final Attack Force during the day on beached vessels at Ca­ During the first five days of May the Allied pes Zebib and Fortass. armies took up their positions for their final Fighter-bombers of the Western Desert Air attacks. As already mentioned the considerable Force continued the search for enemy shipping troop movements involved were completed under in the Gulf of Tunis, carrying out over 100 escorted air cover. Kittyhawk and U.S. Warhawk fighter-bomber In the north the German land forces continued sorties. In the evening, two destroyers, believed to withdraw, evidently with the intention of re­ to be carrying troops were sighted off La Gou­ ducing the length of their line by cutting off the lette heading north-east. One of the destroyers Bizerta sector and taking up positions along the blew up after receiving three direct hits and the line of hills running north-west of the Medjerda other was set on fire. The latter, however, was valley. They aid not intend, however, that their later observed continuing on its course. withdrawal should be so precipitate as it eventual­ That night, 6/7th May, thirteen Wellingtons ly became and after the capture of Mateur by of the Strategic Air Force bombed docks and U.S. forces on 3rd May our Allies encountered shipping at Trapani as a diversion for a mine- increase resistance east and north-east of the laying mission by Malta-hased aircraft. town. On the 5th, the Americans, after hard On the 7th the weather deteriorated and ham­ fighting, occupied the western slopes of the pered our shipping attacks. U.S. Warhawk­ AchJcel ridge and on the following day captured bombers of the Strategic Air Force, however, the rest of the feature. straffed three motor-boats and a 150 foot yacht Meanwhile, there were no major changess in off Tunis, sinking the latter. Western Desert the Enfidaville sector. South of Pont du Fahs, fighter-bombers, which operated at full strength, however, the French continued their drive against despite bad weather, against shipping in the Gulf the enemy's well-sited positions, and in spite of of Tunis, reported direct hits and near misses the intense artillery fire they continued to make on a number of vessels. satisfactory progress. In all, during the first week in May, as a re­ In the Medjez sector preparations were in hand sult of the Allied air attacks 20 enemy vessels for our final break-through to Tunis. In this were sunk, seven probably sunk and twelve da­ connection the 7th Armoured Division, the 4th maged. The vessels sunk comprised two mer­ Indian Division and the 201st Guards Brigade chant ships (one small and one of unreported had been transferred from the Vlllth Army to size), one destroyer, four Siebel ferries, three the 1st Army's front. It was now decided not T.L.Cs, and ten small unidentified vessels. to persist with our attack launched in the Bou The attacks by Middle East-based heavy bom­ Arada—Goubellat area, which had been halted bers during the same week, apart from seven by the enemy's anti-tank guns, minefields and XL®, Liberator sorties flown against Taranto, armour, but to concentrate our main strength were all delivered against Reggio di Calabria in for a decisive thrust towards Tunis along the the toe of Italy, against which six R.A.F. Libe­ axis of the Medjez—Tunis road. rator and 67 U.S. Liberator effective sorties were For the first four days in May our air attacks carried out. The Ninth U.S. Air Force attack on on military targets were on a reduced scale, due the 6th was particularly heavy and devastating; to bad flying weather. Fighter sweeps, how­ 51 sorties were flown by two formations. The ever, were maintained by R.A.F. and U.S. Spit­ first formation scored direct hits on two mer­ fires on the Tactical Air Force. chant vessels and caused many fires and explo­ The Western Desert Air Force during the four sions in the harbour area. The second forma­ days under review made only one attack of note tion scored direct hits on a large ship, and se­ in the battle area. This was against enemy posi­ veral other merchant vessels were destroyed; tions at Djebibina, west of Enfidaville on 4th May; huge explosions were observed around the har­ effective sorties were flown by 34 S.A.A.F. Bos­ bour. tons, 36 R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. Baltimores and 35 Meanwhile, particularly by night, the Royal U.S. Mitchells, but observation of results was Navy was also on the look-out for enemy ship­ obscured by haze. ping: their most striking success reported dur­ The Tactical Air Force attacks consisted of a ing the week was the sinking, on the night 3/4th few R.A.F. and U.S. Boston sorties against the May, of a 7,000 ton merchant vessel laden with enemy's positions at Ksar Tyr, and tank con- bombs and land-mines, and an escorting a particularly yer, off . ck by eighteen Attack on Messina by U.S. Liberators on 28//; April, 1943.

progress on 5th April, 1943.

32 aircraft on troop concentrations west of Tebour­ U.S. Mitchells flew 24 sorties; U.S. "Warhawks ba; eight Spitfire-bomber sorties in attacks in the carried out 120 sorties in straffing and bombing Massicault area and 60 Hurricane and Spitfire attacks; and Hurricane and Spitfire fighter-bom­ fighter-bomber attacks, on the 4th, on transport bers made 72 and 36 sorties, respectively. In figh­ and gun positions in the Zaghouan and Massicault ter sweeps, escort duties and miscellaneous re­ areas. connaissance missions R.A.F. and U.S. Spitfires Meanwhile, R.A.F. and U.S. Spitfires, in spite flew approximately 600 sorties. The majority of of bad weather, swept the entire battle area, these sorties were flown in support of the advance and carried out tactical and artillery reconnais­ from Medjez, but some, which are specified on sances; few enemy aircraft were sighted and on page 34, were carried out in the northern sector. some days none at all. The light bomber effort in the early morning With an improvement in the weather on the was directed against the enemy's positions at night 4/5th May our air attacks in the battle Bordj Frendj, which constitued the first objecti­ area were intensified. Thirty-four Wellingtons, ves of our infantry attack. The Boston attacks, under the operational control of the W.D.A.F., coupled with our heavy artillery barrage, softened bombed enemy communications west and north opposition to such an extent that our infantry west of Tunis, starting fires, and seventeen Tact­ made a speedy advance and cleared the way for ical Air Force Bisleys bombed transport on the our armoured thrust. Later, the light bombers roads between Tebourba and Cheylus. The fol­ went ahead of our advance and attacked enemy lowing day the Tactical Air Force flew twelve concentrations in the area between Furna and U.S. Mitchell and 59 R.A.F. and U.S. Boston St. Cyprien and in the area. The U.S. sorties, with Spitfire escorts, against enemy troop Mitchell attacks were delivered against enemy concentrations and enemy strongholds on the positions in the Furna - St. Cyprien area and on north-eastern and eastern slopes of Djebel Bou vehicles at St. Cyprien. The Tactical Air Force Aoukaz, against which our forces had instituted bomber attacks caused widespread damage at all an attack as an essential preliminary to the points of resistance in the line of our advance. drive on Tunis. The attacks materially helped Perhaps the most successful individual attack was our ground forces to clear these hills on the l.eft that delivered in the early evening by twelve Bos­ ol our imminent attack. No enemy aircraft were tons of No. 38 Squadron on a convoy of 100 ve­ encountered during the day. hicles in the St. Cyprien - Djedeida area: all the During the night Tactical Air Force Bisleys vehicles were left stationary after the bombing and French Leos flew seventeen and seven sor­ and thick clouds of smoke rose from the target ties respectively against airfields at El Aouina, area. No light bombers were lost during the La Sebala and Ariana, in the Tunis area, to limit day's operations but 21 were damaged by the the effort of the enemy's fast-dwindling Tunisian intense flak encountered. air forces, and 46 Wellingtons (under W.D.A.F. The most effective U.S. Warhawk attack was control) attacked road and dispersed transport made by 72 aircraft in the early evening on traf­ vehicles near Cheylus, north-east of Pont du fic jammed on the road south-west of Tunis; Fahs, and Djedeida, north-east of Tebourba. troops and vehicles were bombed and straffed with good results. Meanwhile, Hurricane-bom­ The Drive on Tunis bers made seven attacks in the Massicault - At dawn on 6th May our main attack was St. Cyprien area and along the Cheylus - Dje­ launched on a 3,000 yard front along the axis of deida - Tunis roads, and Spitfire-bombers carried the Medjez—Tunis road. The initial advance was out free-lance missions, chiefly in the St. Cy­ made by infantry, supported by concentrated ar­ prien area. tillery fire ajid the direct air support mentioned Enemy air opposition was on an increased scale below. but there were no serious attempts to interfere Our first objectives were soon taken and dur­ with our escorted bomber formations and there ing the morning our armour passed through the was, in fact, a definite reluctance to fight. In the infantry, successfully engaged enemy tanks, and course of the day R.A.F. Spitfires destroyed eight pushed on to Furna. Meanwhile, another British ME.109s and probably destroyed two ME.109s and armoured force had by-passed Furna and oc­ one FW.190 for the loss of one of our fighters; cupied our main objective, Massicault, in the U.S. Spitfires destroyed eight ME.109S, two FW. afternoon and had contacted enemy positions at 190s and one MC.202 and probably destroyed two St. Cyprien by the evening. Thus, in a single ME.109s without suffering any casualties. The day our troops had broken through the enemy's only offensive action by enemy aircraft was a line and had reached points fifteen miles from morning attack by six FW.190 fighter-bombers 1 \nis. east of Medjez el Bab. The Tactical and Western Desert Air Forces The Western Desert Air Force's effort in the provided full air support throughout the entire battle area consisted of two concentrated attacks day. by Allied bombers in the Furna and St. Cyprien The Tactical Air Force's effort was made up as areas, in support of the thrust of our land forces, follows:— light bombers flew 227 sorties, com­ and Kittyhawk and U.S. Warhawk fighter-bom­ prising 153 U.S. and 74 R.A.F. Boston sorties ; ber attacks on road traffic west and south of 1 Tunis. In all," 89 effective sorties were flown by had to be maintained for six divisions during the R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. Baltimores, 54 by S.A.A.F. advance. The result was a great traffic conges­ Bostons and 51 by U.S. Mitchells; R.A.F. and U.S. tion which constituted a sitting target — but the fighter-bombers made 55 and 45 effective sorties enemy air forces were unable to attack it. The respectively. Escort for the bombers was pro­ more obvious help afforded by the Allied air vided by over 200 Spitfires, Kittyhawks and U.S. forces' co-ordinated bomber and fighter-bomber Warhawks, and for the fighter-bombers by 90 attacks in softening resistance before the break­ Spitfires and Kittyhawks. through, and later in support of our armoured The Allied bombers' attacks were extremely forces, was yet another example of how air power accurate and after the second attack over twenty can blast the way for advancing land forces. fires were seen burning in the target area. Our Occupation of Bizerta losses were one Baltlimore and one Mitchell. The fighter-bombers found good targets scarce, but While the main thrust towards Tunis was to inflicted casualties on small groups of transport progress U.S. 2nd Corps, which included French vehicles over a wide area. Of the few enemy troops in the coastal area, were approaching Bi­ aircraft encountered during the day Western De­ zerta. Armoured units succeeded in out-flanking sert Air Force Spitfires shot down one ME. 109 enemy positions east of Mateur, where resistance without loss to themselves. was still strong, and entered Ferryville during the early afternoon of 7th May. A few hours later The Fall of Tunis , Bizerta was occupied. The American forces also cleared the enemy from the Chouigui Gap and During the night 6/7th May, six Halifaxes and 43 Wellingtons, operating under the control of from the high ground west of Chouigui. By that the Western Desert Air Force, bombed the main time the enemy had already evacuated Tebourba. roads converging on Tunis from Bizerta and from As already mentioned, bad flying weather over the west and south. Electrical storms, rain and the battle area limited our air activity on the 7th. low cloud were encountered, but many bombs Spitfires, however, flew fighter sweeps covering were seen to burst on the roads and four fires the roads Djedeida-Mateur and , Bizerta-Tunis were observed. A Halifax and a Wellington failed and at points where traffic congestion was ob­ to return. served vehicles were machine-gunned with grood The speed of our land forces' drive to Tunis on effect. In addition, as already mentioned the 6th and the destruction caused by our air and U.S. Mitchells and R.A.F. and U.S. Bostons at­ artillery attacks completely upset the enemy's tacked vehicles on the Tunis-Bizerta road. defensive plans. On the 7th our advance was continued in the face of disorganised and scat­ The Round Up tered resistance and our armoured cars entered Our armies now began their extensive mop­ Tunis in the afternoon. ping-up operations, backed by the Allied air for­ Bad weather limited the scale of the Tactical ces which, as recounted in the following section, Air Forces' attacks against land targets during attacked the retreating enemy at will and in con­ the day and several missions had to be abandoned. junction with our naval forces prevented any at­ Three attacks on transport vehicles on the Tunis- tempt to stage an Axis "Dunkirk". Bizerta and other roads leading into Tunis were On 8th May our land forces cleared the Marsa made by escorted formations of R.A.F. and U.S. peninsula, north-east of Tunis, and. occupied La Bostons and U.S. Mitchells; 55 Hurricane-bom­ Goulette. In Bizerta there was still some desul­ bers attacked troops withdrawing towards Tunis; tory opposition in the morning, but resistance in and 48 U.S. Warhawk fighter-bombers bombed the area as a whole ended during the day with the and straffed aircraft on the ground at El Aouina surrender of German forces, including elements airfield and troop concentrations in the vicinity. of the 15th and 10th Armoured Divisions, in the Spitfires which swept the entire battle area Protville area. throughout the day encountered no enemy air­ Our armoured forces continued their advance craft but, together with Spitfire-bombers, they from Tunis and captured Hammam Lif in the attacked transport vehicles over a wide area. morning and continued south-east in order to cut Four Spitfires were destroyed by the enemy's off the enemy's retreat into the Cape Bon penin­ anti-aircraft fire. sula. Enemy resistance on the hills south of Hammam Lif and around Creteville was not fi­ The Decisive Factor nally overcome until the afternoon. Our advance In the final drive to Tunis the influence of our was then continued along the axis of the .Grom­ air power on the land operations was decisive. balla - Hammamet road. Hammamet itself was The Allies' air supremacy made possible the rapid occupied during the night of 10/11th May and movement of large troop formations and concen­ columns branched south and north to and trations at the point of attack. The break Bou Ficha, respectively. through from Medjez necessitated tne massing of The Axis troops between Zaghouan and the sea our land force on an extremely narrow front,, at first intended to obey orders to fight until their volving the bottle-neck of a singtf ammunition was exhausted, but with the ap­ Medjez over which the i proach of our column advancing south from Bou Castelvetrano airfield, Sicily, shotting l\IE.323s and other transport aircraft, and the elaborate dispersal pens, before the attacks by N.A.A.F. in April.

Fichu, the Italian First Army was now directly make night trips to bring stores or evacuate per­ threatened from the rear as well as in front. In sonnel from Cape Bon peninsula but night-flying the afternoon of 12th May the Army Comman­ Hurricanes and Beaufighters made this a hazar­ der, after a bombing attack, asked for terms and dous undertaking. A few bombers, also, made a formally surrendered unconditionally on the night raid on Algiers which proved disastrous for morning of 13th May. them. Meanwhile, Africa Corps on the west flank On 8th May Allied light bombers and fighter- had surrendered on the 11th to the French bombers of the Tactical Force flew approxima­ forces west of Zaghouan. tely 300 and U.S. Mitchells over 50 sorties in sup­ port of our advancing ground forces and fighters Unopposed Air Attacks carried out approximately 600 sorties in escort From 8th to 12th May, while our land forces duties, offensive sweeps, and straffing missions in were overcoming the enemy's last resistance, the the battle' area. Allied Air Forces bombed and straffed the demo­ Most of the R.A.F. and U.S. Boston attacks ralised Axis troops who were left without even were made in the Hamman Lif area and to the the semblance of an air arm, and units of the east, in support of our land forces' push from Royal Navy bombarded points of resistance in Tunis; attacks on transport vehicles were parti­ the Cap Bon peninsula. On the 8th the enemy cularly heavy near Soliman and these were sup­ air forces had only the and Korba plemented by U.S. Warhawk-bomber attacks. landing grounds in the Cape Bon peninsula from Other light bomber sorties were flown against which to operate. Throughout the day only about the enemy's armoured division in the Protville 60 sorties were flown over Tunisia by enemy air­ area prior to its surrender. Eight Hurricane- craft, including some by fighters, fitted with bomber missions and one by Spitfires over the long-range tanks, which operated from Sicily and Cape Bon peninsula and in the Protville area . On the following day enemy air ac­ were especially successful. Troops, emplacements, tivity was even less, and for the remaining days transport and landing grounds were all attacked of the campaign there was none at all over the with good results and eight vessels were also battle area. A few JU.52s, however, attempted to bombed and shot up. Meanwhile, Spitfires car­ Temime landing ground, and a landing ground base of the Caji£"JBGrombalia lance bombing missions over the Cape Bon pe­ areas, causing large fires and explosions. ninsula inflicted considerable casualties on troops On the 9th the Tactical Air Force continued its and vehicles, particularly north of Korba and attacks on enemy positions, troops and vehicles along the western coastal road. In addition, with the same intensity as on the previous day. escorted Kittyhawk and U.S. Warhawk fighter- Escorted Allied bombers made four concentrated bombers ofthe Western Desert Air Force operated attacks against retreating enemy columns; three in strength against road targets in the Cap Bon in support of our land forces' attack at Soliman, peninsula area generally throughout the entire the important road and rail junction east of Ham­ day. During the night thirteen Wellingtons bom­ mam Lif; and two against enemy positions on the bed enemy transport vehicles on the road between high ground north-east of Soliman. The results Nabeul and Menzel Temime, in support of our in general were described as "excellent" and many armoured column advancing northwards from fires and explosion were caused. Hurricane- Nabeul. bombers' flew nine missions in attacks on road On the 11th the main weight of o.ur air attacks transport, enemy positions and jetties in the Cape was switched against the enemy forces still re­ Bon peninsula; in particular, gun positions and sisting in the area between Zaghouan and St. Ma­ vehicles along the Grombalia road were attacked rie du Zit. U.S. Bostons delivered four attacks with great success. Spitfire-bombers concen­ against concentrations in this area, carrying out trated on attacking enemy columns retreating 48 sorties and dropping over 31 tons of bombs. from Hamman Lif to Soliman and U.S. Warhawk ­ Leaflets were also dropped informing the enemy bombers operated against enemy transport vehi­ troops of the uselessness of further resistance. cles across the base of the Cape Bon peninsula Two heavier attacks in the same area were also from Hammamet to Soliman. made by over over 100 Allied bombers of the Meanwhile, R.A.F. and U.S. Spitfires flew over Western Desert Air Force; the bombing was des­ 20 fighter sweeps and straffing missions, princi­ cribed as particularly accurate. Meanwhile, es­ pally over the Cape Bon peninsula; attacks on corted Kittyhawks and U.S. Warhawk fighter- enemy troops and vehicles were particularly nu­ bombers continued their attacks on road targets merous around Soliman and on roads leading to in the Cape Bon peninsula, destroying 30 vehicles the south-east. During the day, also, six R.A.F., and damaging many more. S.A.A.F. and R.A.A.F. fighter-bomber squadrons On the following day, 12th May, Allied bom­ and the U.S. Warhawk-bomber force of the Wes­ bers of the Western Desert Air Force made the tern Desert Air Force, strongly escorted by Spit­ last attacks on land targets in Tunisia. In the fires, Kittyhawks, and Warhaws, took time off early afternoon effective sorties were made by from their shipping attacks around the Tunisian 29 R.A.F. and S'.A.A.F. Baltimores and eighteen coast and participated in the bombing and straf­ U.S. Mitchells in two attacks against the 90th fing of troops, vehicles and supply bases in the Light Division's defended positions south of Bou Cape Bon peninsula and destroyed several JU.52s Ficha, and six R.A.F. Baltimores bombed gun on a landing ground near Menzel Temime. During position in the Enfidaville area. The bombing the night attacks on traffic in the Cape Bon pe­ south of Bou Ficha was reported by our land for­ ninsula were continued by Wellingtons, which ces in the vicinity to be extremely accurate. flew 28 effective sorties, and night-flying Hurri­ Shortly afterwards, the Italian First Army and canes and Beaufighters shot down two JU.52s attached German units laid down their arms. and straffed transport vehicles over a wide area. During the afternoon of 12th May General Von On the 10th it was evident that the enemy for­ Armin and his staff were captured in the St. Ma­ ces still at large, apart from those pinned down rie du Zit area. The last pockets of resistance by the Villth Army, were nearing the end of were mopped up by 14th May and the Tunisian their tether. Our air attacks on targets in the campaign came to an end. In the final stage Cape Bon peninsula were accordingly on a some­ of the campaign 248,000 prisoners were taken and what decreased scale. Twelve missions, compris­ a considerable number of tanks and guns. ing 130 sorties, were flown during the day by R.A.F. and U.S. Mitchells of the Tactical Air "Dunkirk" Parody Force. Four attacks were When the Axis ports in Tunisia fell on 8th May, which was put out the enemy's six months struggle to supply these

36 bases ended. During the last week of the cam­ paign, as the enemy was unable to attempt an destroyed on the ground and a large~petrol fire evacuation, there was little Axis shipping in the was started jp the north-west corner of the air­ Sicilian Narrows. Until the final collapse, how­ field. Shortly afterwards, sixteen escorted Light­ ever, a few small craft crossed daily in a fruitless ning-bombers of the Strategic Air Force made a effort to bring in certain supplies and evacuate further attack and reported the destruction of personnel. more aircraft on the ground. In the course of The Allied air supremacy over northern Tunisia the following two days the attacks were inten­ and the control of the Sicilian Narrows by the sified by escorted bombers of the Western Desert Royal Navy whittled down the enemy's "Dun­ Air Force: in all, R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. light bom­ kirk" to vest-pocket size. bers flew 175, and U.S. Mitchells 66 effective sorties. Many fires and explosions were caused On the 8th, Western Desert fighter-bombers, as a result of the attacks. operating in strength against enemy shipping off the Tunisian coast, and helped by Baltimore sor­ The Strategic Air Force bombers, meanwhile, ties, severely damaged a medium-sized merchant attended to the Sicilian and Sardinian air bases. vessel and damaged three others. When, in the On the night 8/9th May, 25 Wellingtons success­ evening, enemy fighters tried to interfere with fully bombed the airfields at Villacidro, Elmas this activity, seven were shot down and several and Decimomannu in southern Sardinia, where our others damaged for the loss of one Kittyhawk. reconnaissance aircraft had reported the pre­ sence of many bombers. On the 10th, two for­ During the day, also, U.S. Marauders and U.S. mations of U.S. Fortresses, totalling 45 aircraft Lightning-bombers of the Strategic Air Force bombed Milo {Trapani) airfield, setting on fire probably sank a small merchant vessel and sank or destroying at least fifteen aircraft, including a small trawler; both ships were heading for an ME.323, and causing fires and explosions. On Sicily. On the following day, U.S. Spitfires set on the same day 46 more U.S. Fortresses attacked fire a barge north-east of Tunis and R.A.F. and Bo Rizzo airfield, further south, causing many U.S. Boston «cored near misses on two vessels fires. Considerable enemy fighter opposition was off the Tunisian coast and U.S. Warhawk-bom­ encountered in the last-mentioned attack and as bers straffed barges, with unreported results. On a result of combats two were shot down and two the 10th, Hurricane-bombers intercepted a schoo­ more probably destroyed for the loss of one U.S. ner laden with troops north-east of Bizerta, head­ Fortress. ing for Sicily; as a result of the fighter-bomber attacks the schooner was seen to break into Attacks on Italian Forts pieces. Meanwhile, Royal Navy units, on constant pat­ Extensive reconnaissance of the enemy's Me­ rol around the Tunisian coast, sank a barge laden diterranean ports during the last week of the with men and ammunition, and two small mer­ Tunisian campaign revealed greatly increased chant vessels off Cape Bon on the night 8/9th shipping activity in the Sicilian, Sardinian and May; six small coastal vessels filled with evacu­ western Italian ports. Attacks on these bases ated troops on the 10th; and damaged an E-boat, were now made as part of the necessary preli­ capturing most of its occupants, on the 11th. minaries to our imminent assault on the south­ ern bastions of Hitler's European " fortress." It is likely that some key personnel were evacuated by JU.52s at night during the last Apart from attacks by 70 R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. phase of the campaign but, as already indicated, light bombers and 38 U.S. Mitchells of the West­ ern Desert Air Force on shipping in the Pantel­ night flying Hurricanes and Beaufighters took laria harbour on the 10th, the Middle East squad­ their toll of these also. rons confined their attacks during the second Attacks on Air Bases week in May to the bombing of Messina, Augusta and Catania. These attacks were carried out by Just prior to the fall of Tunis and Bizerta the the Ninth U.S. Air Force. enemy withdrew as many aircraft as he could from the Tunisian landing grounds. As a result Two attacks were made on the train ferry ter­ more aircraft were now located on the Sicilian minus at Messina by seven R.A.F. and 44 U.S. and Sardinian airfields and the force on Pantel­ Liberators, respectively. In particular, hits were leria was also increased. In addition, more bomb­ scored on the ferry ships and railway yards. On ers were present on the Sardinian airfields in 11th May 48 U.S. Liberators, escorted by Malta- readiness for attacks on our Algerian ports and based Spitfires, made a very successful attack shipping. Accordingly, during the last week of on Catania harbour; hits scored on shipping re­ the Tunisian campaign heavy attacks were de­ sulted in the sinking of an ammunition ship and livered by the North-west African Air Forces and the setting on fire of a tanker. At Augusta, on Middle East-based aircraft on the above-mention­ the 13th, 48 U.S. Liberators scored hits and near ed airfields. misses on several ships in the harbour and bursts were observed among seaplanes. In addition, The attacks on Pantelleria aerodrome were be­ fires_ were causedat^he oil installations. gun on 8th May by escorted bombers of Western Desert Air Force: 89 effective sor extremely were flown by R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. Bostons the Sicilian ports 6$T Palermo and Marsala "and" Cagliari, Enemy Aircraft Losses in southern Sardinia. During the last six weeks of the Tunisian cam­ On 9th May, Palermo was attacked twice by paign, apart from the vast number of aircraft a total of 122 U.S. Fortresses and 89 U.S. Mit­ destroyed and abandoned on the ground, the Al­ chells and Marauders, escorted by U.S. Light­ lied air forces based on the African m'ainland nings, and 23 Wellingtons followed up the attack destroyed over 800 enemy aircraft in combat; our at night. A total of 458 tons of bombs was losses, by comparison, were low. dropped in the course of the three attacks. Large fires and- explosions were caused, parti­ The Eastern Supply Line cularly in the areas of the docks, railway yards and Army Headquarters. Two additional ex­ Mention has already been made on page 29 of plosions were caused through the blowing up of the work of the North-west African Coastal Air a ship in the harbour and a gas holder. A by- Force, operating to the west of the enemy's Tu­ product of the day attacks was the destruction nisian perimeter. At the same time units operat­ of seventeen enemy fighters which attempted ing under A.H.Q., Air Defences Eastern Mediter­ interception. Some indication of the intense and ranean and H.Q., No.201 (Naval Co-operation) accurate heavy flak encountered over the target Group, continued to control the sea-ways to the is given by the fact that one U.S. Fortress was east from the Tunisian to the Turkish borders, shot down and over 50 others damaged. thus protecting the supply line of the Vlllth Army and the supporting Allied air forces. Marsala was attacked twice on 11th May by From 1st April to 14th May Hurricane, Spit­ a total of 180 U.S. Fortresses, Mitchells and Ma­ fire and Beaufighter squadrons flew 329 sorties rauders; U.S. Lightnings provided the escort. in defence of harbours and 1,991 sorties in pro­ Once again Wellingtons followed up the attacks tection of convoys. This intensive effort dis­ during the night, flying 22 sorties. During the suaded enemy aircraft from attempting to inter­ three attacks, approximately 435 tons of bombs fere with our shipping and few attacks were were dropped. In the course of the day attacks reported. Constant sorties were also flown in hits were observed on warehouses, docks, rail­ defence of our land lines of communication to way yards, repair shops and in the city; in both Tunisia; enemy raiders and reconnaissance air­ the day and the night attacks, also, fires were craft usually made off when our defence fight­ started which could be observed by our aircraft ers were airborne and accordingly few decisive crossing the Tunisian coast 90 miles away. combats were reported. 13th May was an unlucky day for the Sardini­ Middle East naval co-operation units flew over an port of Cagliari. Two attacks were delivered 600 sorties on anti-submarine (close cover) pat­ by 107 U.S. Fortresses and 96 U.S. Mitchells rols and approximately 350 on anti-submarine and 22 Wellingtons continued the bombing (area) patrols during the six weeks under review. during the night. In all, 438 tons of bombs This increased activity was necessary owing to were dropped. Direct hits on ships in the the increase in shipping in convoy in the East­ harbour resulted in a vessel exploding and four ern Mediterranean. Thus, in April 122 convoys catching fire. Smoke from the larger fires caus­ were given anti-submarine protection as compar­ ed by the day attacks was visible for 100 miles ed with the March figure of 94. During May, by aircraft flying at 15,000 feet and smoke fol­ with convoys beginning to pass through from lowing a series of loud explosions caused by the Gibraltar to Port Said even greater anti-sub­ Weflington attacks rose to a height of 6,000feet marine and fighter protection was necessary. and was visible for 80 miles on the return jour­ Very few submarines were sighted, however, ney. Prior to the heavy bombing attacks on from 1st April to 14th May and no positive Cagliari the port had an estimated daily capa­ claims in respect of damage inflicted on them city of 3,400 tons, with dockage accommodation were made. for twelve vessels ranging from 200 to 400 feet. The above-mentioned attack on 13th May prac­ Meanwhile, offensive reconnaissances for ene­ tically completed the process of neutralising my shipping were made by Wellingtons, Balti­ Cagliari as a port. mores and Beaufighters in the Aegean and along the west coast of Greece. During April the Wel­ In addition to the above-mentioned attacks, lingtons and Baltimores were unable to find U.S. Fortresses attacked Civitavecchia, south­ suitable targets, but the Beaufighters carried west of ; U.S. Marauders attacked Porto Ponte Romano and targets in the vicinity ; U.S. out attacks on five occasions, resulting in the Mitchells attacked , at this stage Sardinia's destruction of a caique, the setting on fire of busiest port; and U.S. Lightning-bombers attack­ three 120 ton schooners, and the scoring of near ed Alghero and Porto Torres, north-west Sardi­ misses and cannon strikes on two merchant ves­ nia. In the course of these supplementary at­ sels. In May both Baltimores and Beaufighters tacks more than 252 tons of bombs were dropped. carried out successful offensive shipping sweeps. One merchant vessel of 80Q tons and a 150 ton It is evident from the weight of the above- steamer were sunk and two other merchant mentioned attacks, delivered during the last vessels damaged; in addition fourteen sailing week of th^'f unjj&i&i^ 7 ""* iels, with a total tonnage of 1,120 tons, were invasion air -* ey and 36, totalling 3,385 tons, were damaged. The work of the A.H.Q., Air Defences Eastern (and will Mediterranean and No. 201 Group squadrons in be, dealt with in separate articles protecting our land and sea lines of communi­ The final victory in Africa could not have been cation from Tunisia to Turkey ensured the safe achieved without full co-operation between the transit of supplies to our land and air forces land, sea and air services. The Air Commander­ operating to the south and east of the enemy's in-Chief, Mediterranean Air Command, made ''co­ Tunisian forces. The enemy was *not strong operation" the theme of his message to personnel enough to offer any appreciable opposition to of the Allied air forces on the completion of the this passage of supplies and the sorties by sneak Tunisian campaign:,— raiders, operating either above or below the wa­ ters, were rendered ineffective through the cons­ "To all ranks of the Allied Air Forces.— By tant vigilance of both air and naval forces. magnificent team work between nationalities, commands, units, officers and men from Teheran " From Morocco to the Indian Ocean .... " to Takoradi, from Morocco to the Indian Ocean, The accounts of the air effort during the you have, together with your comrades on land "Battle for " and the Tunisian Campaign and sea, thrown the enemy out of Africa. You given in the first three issues of the R.A.F. have shown the world the unity and strength of Middle East Review have been mainly concerned air power. A grand job, well finished. We face with the activity of operational units. Other our next job with the knowledge that we have aspects of the manifold activities of the Allied thrashed the enemy, and the determination to air forces connected with maintenance, supply, thrash him again."

Attack on Catania harbour on Uth May, 1943. The M/V on fire received at least two direct hits; rolling shock is on fire on the mole and the Pozver STRATEGIC

HEAVY ATTACK.5 ON FER.O.V TEHMlNALb BOMBING iQIM TO 3OIM JUNf 99O BOMBtfi. SORTIES I4'I5THMAY-3OTHJUNE 1043

S65/ FiOnTER. BOMBER. AND BOMBER SORTIES 8TH MAY 1I1H JUNE 44 BOMBER SOR.TIES ATTACKS IN NORTHERN ITALY SUMMARY OF EFFORT "/Or SHOWN o/v MAP . 15TH MAV-< ATTACKS ON AIRFIELDS: 2292 FICnTE.R/BOMBER SPEZlA iTiiJUNf, 112 BOMBER SORTIES AND BOMBER. SORTIES LEGHORN 28TH MAY, 92 BOMBER SORTIES MALTA ATTACKS ON PORTS, BASES L COMMUNICATIONS. LEGHORN * 28THJUNE 96 BOMBER SORTIES 263 8 FIGHTER/BOMBER AND BOMBER. SORTIES GROSSETO (A,rf,tia). 30THMAY. 54 BOMBER SORTIES (EXCLUDING ATTACKS ON PANTEUERIA AND LAMPtOUSA) 6O4 FlGMTtR BOMBER AND BOMBER S0RTI15 II TH AND 12THJUNE