LARGE-SCALE, AIR ACTIVITY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 14, 12 October 1942, Page 6

LARGE-SCALE, AIR ACTIVITY

Egyptian Battlefield

(British oflicial Wireless.) (Received October 11, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, October 10.

Large-scale air activity over the Egyptian front is described in a Middle East communique, which states: Yesterday there was nothing to report from our land forces, but throughout the day and night the Allied air forces carried out heavy-scale attacks on enemy landing grounds in the forward area. Numerous direct hits were scored, and a considerable number of enemy aircraft on the ground were destroyed or damaged by low-flying attacks. At least ten enemy fighters were shot down, apd as many damaged, while ten fighters, three bombers and a troop-carrier were hit on the ground. In addition, our aircraft hit 30 motorvehicles, sil'enoed two anti-aiircraft gun posts, set an aircraft vehicle on fire, and exploded an ammunition dump. The bulk of the attacks were directed against the Daba landing grounds, and were carried out by light bombers of the R.A.F. and S.A.A.F., and by fighters of the R.A.F.,, S.A.A.F., and R.A.A.F. United States bombers and fighter-bombers also played a part, and United States fighters shot down their first enemy aircraft in the desert. A successful attack was also made yesterday bj’ our light bombers and long-range against an enemy train. The engine was destroyed, and munition trucks were blown up. Allied heavy bombers carried out a daylight attack against Benghazi harbour. From these operations twelve of our aircraft are missing. A review of night patrol activities in the Western desert in fuller detail than has yet been made public is given by an agency correspondent. On Monday night, he says, our infantry attacked enemy strongpoints in the Ruweisat Ridge area, and after fierce fighting killed an entire garrison. Outforces suffered only slight casualties. On the following night one of our fighting patrols in the central sector rushed au enemy post, killing a number of .the garrison and taking two prisoners. These, however, were killed by the fire of their own troops. Later in the same morning our light

mobile forces operating in the southern sector encountered a small number of enemy tanks. These were at once engaged, but quickly withdrew, one being damaged.

Middle East headquarters in Cairo stated yesterday: “Apart, from patrol activity, there is nothing to report, from our land forces. On the night, of October 7-8, medium bombers attacked targets at Tobruk. There was a decrease in air activity in the battle area yesterday. We lost one aircraft.”