MALTA TAKES TOLL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20914, 14 October 1942, Page 3

MALTA TAKES TOLL

100 AXIS PLANES TALLY FOR TWO DAYS HUGE FIRE AT TOBRUK (By Telegraph—Prefls Assn.- —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) ill a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 13. It is now known, says a Cairo communique, that at least 24 enemy aircraft were destroyed and about 50 damaged in attacks on Malta -yesterday. This brings the total to 39 definitely destroyed and 65 damaged in two days. In the first three raids yesterday the enemy lost 12 bombers and 10 fighters, states a message from Valetta. The island’s defences destroyed five bombers and one fighter in the first raid soon alter dawn and three bombers and three fighters in the second raid, when some of our aerodromes were attacked. Other enemy planes were damaged. Our fighters met the enemy coming in for the third raid and massacred them. Half the bomber force was shot down into the sea, together with five of their escort planes. The remaining bombers and also many fighters were badly damaged. Malta has now accounted for nearly 1000 enemy planes. .Land Patrols Active A communique issued by Middle East Headquarters in Cairo states that our patrols were active on Sunday night. Small parties of enemy transport were dispersed by our fire yesterday. On Sunday night our bombers started a particularly large petrol fire at Tobruk and also claimed a direct hit on an enemy destroyer north of Derna. An Italian merchantman which was sinking was sighted near the same position. Air activity over the battle area yesterday was not on a large scale, but our light bombers and long-range fighters again successfully attacked a train, petrol lorries, road transport, and a schooner. They shot down two enemy bombers. We lost six aircraft. including five Malta fighters, but two of the pilots are safe. A fire described by a pilot as the largest he had ever seen in North Africa was started in the Tobruk area on Sunday night by Royal Air Force medium bombers. The blaze, which was believed to come from a big petrol dump, was visible for over 10U miles away. There was another large blaze in the Tobruk dock area and fir.es along the harbour and also at Mersa Matruh. /

United States' Flying Fortresses attacked a medium-sized merchantman in Tobruk harbour to-day. One probable hit and numerous near misses were observed. There was heavy but inaccurate anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters were over the target, but failed to attack.