HARD-HITTING MALTA

Southland Times, Issue 24877, 17 October 1942, Page 5

HARD-HITTING MALTA

Costly Attacks For Axis (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, October 16. In five days the defenders of Malta have brought down at least 84 Axis planes. Our losses are 12 fighters, but the pilots of five are safe. A Cairo communique says that enemy attacks on Malta continued on Wednesday. All the raiders were “downed” before they reached the island. Our fighters shot down 12 bombers and 11 fighters. The damage as a result of these raids was slight. Our aircraft losses were five Spitfires, but three of the pilots are safe. The R.A.F. Middle East news service says that the Axis air forces lost, in daylight, 56 aircraft and over 130 airmen over Malta in three days. Little damage of importance has been inflicted on military targets in the island, although there have been several civilian casualties. No fewer than 25 Junkers 88’s have been shot down. Only four of the 100 men who flew in them were rescued by R.A.F. launches. Twenty-two Messerschmitt 109’s, eight Macchi 202’s and one RE 2001 were also shot down with none of the pilots saved. R.A.F. losses in the same period were seven Spitfires with two of the pilots safe.