CONTINUOUS AIR RAIDS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 240, 12 October 1942, Page 2

CONTINUOUS AIR RAIDS

LARGE-SCALE MID-EAST ACTIVITY.

B.OfW.

RUGBY, Oct. 11.

To-day's Middle East war eommunique says: "Our medium bombers and naval aircraft on Friday night- attacked enemy landing grounds in the Fuka area. Buildings were set on flre, and direct hfts were scored on a number of grounded aircraft. "Activity over the battle area yesterday was reduced to strafing attacks by our fighters. Motor transport vehicles, tanks and tents were attacked, and casualties were inflicted on troops. "In sweeps over Malta the enemy lost at least two Messerschmitts. "From these and other operations three of our aircraft have not returned." United States heavy bombers attacked shipping and dock facilities at Benghazi at noon yesterday, states a Cairo message. One near-miss was scored on a transport vessel moored at the outer mole, and at least 15 heavy bombs were dropped on buildings and installations in the centre of the dock area. All the American planes returned undamaged. Saturday's eommunique states that throughout Friday and Friday 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 de~ stroyed or damaged by low-flying attacks. At least te nenemy fighters were shot down, and as many damaged, while ten fighters, three bombers and a troop-carrier were liit on the ground. In addition, our aircraft hit 30 motor-vehicles, silenced two anti-aireraft gun posts, - set an aircraft vehicles 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 on Friday by our light bombers and long-range fighters 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 12 of our aircraft are missing. It is known that the explosion was so great when our planes attacked the enemy train in the Western Desert on Friday that the whole train, carrying 500 tons oi munitions, was flown off the line and completely wrecked. Debris was flung hundreds of feet into the air and smoke rose 2000 feet. One truck carrying a big gun was flung bodily into the air v