SLAUGHTER FROM THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 5

SLAUGHTER FROM THE AIR

Brilliant R.A.F. Well Up To Enemy (British Official Wireless.) (Received January 19, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, January IS. The fighter-bombers of the Allied air forces had a great day over the battle area yesterday, when they bombed and machinegunued enemy transport and other targets from the first light till dark, states a Cairo message. It was the biggest/day for fighter-bomb-ers since the Battle of El Alamein. Excellent targets were made by the enemy. Transport hastening west was found by. our aircraft all day long, and they maintained ceaseless attacks with hardly any opposition. This intense fighter-bomber action suggests that the enemy columns withdrawing westward are again being shepherded into those tight concentrations which made sucli a fine target for large-scale bomber attacks in the initial drive from El Alamein. The nature of the country, which is becoming more hilly, also tends to compel the enemy to keep to the fracks and defiles and thus to concentrate. . A new landing ground, less than oU miles from the front line, enabled our desert air forces to move forward yesterday and keep the rapidly retreating enemy within range. Once again complete fighter-bomber formations were moved in witli elocklike precision, and about an hour or so after they landed the planets went into the attack. Aerodromes Not “Scorched.”

In the course of the day’s operations fighter-bomber squadrons which had set off to attack enemy columns between Misurata and Zliten reconnoitred a landing ground which had been abandoned by the Axis, but the R.A.F. had no need for this, for by swift organization and enterprise they were already' provided with a new landing ground almost under the enemy’s nose, oo that the planes could use it on their return. In one area grounded aircraft were cauglit unawares and shot up and destroyed. Tank concentrations were discovered and attacked, and much damage done among transport vehicles, and many casualties were inflicted on the persou“Yn this day of intensive attacks only one of our aircraft, was lost. These bold tactics on the part of, the Allied ground organization resulted in the frustration of the enemy's attempts to render his aerodromes unserviceable alter his departure and made possible the nonstop air offensive. The method also assured full air protection for our forward troops. , , , Strategically, yesterdays advance wa<> extremely important. For one thing, Castel Benito, one of the enemy s main air bases in Tripolitania, is now within reach of the R.A.F. fighter-bombers.