MERSA MATRUH

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 10

MERSA MATRUH

SCENE OF AIR BATTLE

EIGHT ITALIAN PLANES DOWN

RAIDS BY R.A.F.

LONDON, November 2

Royal Air Force bombers have made widespread attacks in Africa, and a full-scale air battle has been fought out over the Egyptian coast. An R.A.F. communique says that raids were carried out on many Italian military objectives and that the targets attacked were as much as 2000 miles apart.

In Libya an aerodrome was bombed and Italian aircraft on the ground attacked. Two were demolished, and another was probably destroyed and several others probably damaged by bomb splinters. The port of Tobruk was visited, as also was Abyssinia, where the chief point of the railway between Jibuti and Addis Ababa was attacked.

The Italians retaliated with one of the biggest raids of the war. Bombers escorted by fighters attempted to attack military targets at Mersa Matruh but were met by fighters, and given battle.

Four of ,the bombers were brought down and an equal number of fighters. One of our fighters was shot down, and another has not so far returned to its base. When last seen it was engaging three Italian bombers which were making for home. During the battle two of our fighters collided but the pilots baled out. It is announced that the Italians also bombed Perim for the first time. There was some damage.