ANOTHER BIG BAG

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 244, 16 October 1942, Page 5

ANOTHER BIG BAG

80 GERMANS IN FOUR DAYS DOOMED BEFORE REACHING TARGET.

B.O.W.

RUGBY", Oct. 15.

"Enemy attacks on Malta continued yesterday," states to- day's Middle East communique from Malta. "All the raiders were doomed before they reached the island. Our fighters shot down 12 bombers and 11 fighters. Damage as a result of these raids was slight, and our aircraft losses were five Spitfires, three of the pilots being safe." In foiu- days over 80 Axis planes have been destroyed. The R.A.F. Middle East News Service says that the Axis air forces lost in day light 56 aircraft and over 130 airmen over Malta in the first three days of the offensive. Little damage of importance has been inflicted 011 military targets m the Island, although there have oeen several civilian casualties. No fewer than 25 JU-88s have been shot down and only four of the 100 men who fiew In them could be rescued by R.A.F. launches. Twentytwo Messerschmitt 109s, eight Macchi 202s and one RE-2Q01 were also shot down with none of the pilots sayed. R.A.F. losses in the same period were seven Spitfires, with two pilots safe. Malta's thousandth enemy raider destroyed since the outbreak of war in the Mediterranean fell soon after dawn on Tuesday to Pilot Officer G. F. Beurling, a Canadian, who destroyed two other hostile aircraft in the same fight, making his score 26, including 24 at Malta, where he arrived in June.