R.A.F. ATTACKS ON AXIS SHIPPING

Southland Times, Issue 24890, 2 November 1942, Page 5

R.A.F. ATTACKS ON AXIS SHIPPING

PRAISE FOR AIRMEN LONDON, October 31. The following signal has been sent by Air-Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East, to the squadrons concerned in the attacks on and the sinking of enemy shipping off the African coast in the last three days: “My sincere congratulations on the destruction of an enemy convoy right under the noses of the shore defences. It was a magnificent example of sheer courage, tenacity and determination to kill.” Three enemy tankers have been sunk in the Mediterranean by torpedocarrying aircraft in four days, according to a Cairo correspondent. Enemy aircraft destroyed over the battle area on Wednesday brought the total to 43 in three days. British light bombers have been particularly successful. Many enemy aircraft have been attacked on landing grounds. A famous Australian squadron has brought its total victories—all achieved in Syria, Libya and Egypt—to 200. South Africans and Americans . have joined in the air offensive with raids on El Daba aerodrome. Photographs have revealed that their bombing was excellent. ALLIES GAIN GROUND British spokesmen on the Egyptian battle continue to confine themselves to the reassuring fact that the Allies are still gaining ground which they are also holding against all enemy counter-at-tacks. On the contrary, Rome radio today for the first time displayed uneasiness about the outcome of the British plan to wear out the Axis forces by exploiting the advantages of nearer bases. The radio pointed out that the Axis forces were facing supply difficulties because of their distance from their bases. The German News Agency tonight stated that very heavy fighting was continuing. The British United Press correspondent, cabling from Allied air headquarters in the Western Desert, says that the Germans brought up air reserves yesterday in an attempt to stem the Allied offensive, the intensity of which is still increasing. The Italians and Germans used 30 dive-bombers in one attack against the forward Allied troops. Allied fighters roared up and chased off the raiders, but missed by seconds an opportunity for a major kill. The Times correspondent on the Alamein front says that there is no disguising the superb part the Allied air forces are playing. They are active day and night. “I saw one enemy plane crashing to earth at daylight,” he says. “It was the Royal Air Force’s first victory for the day—scored before the final bomber squadron appeared en route for home from the night attacks on the Germans.” AMERICANS IN ACTION

Despite a slight increase in Axis air activity ‘United States fighters and medium bombers on Thursday did not engage a single Axis fighter. The Americans were attacking Axis positions, tanks, motor convoys and other targets. They scored many direct hits. The high spot of yesterday’s air activity was the Royal Air Force fighter raid on Mersa Matruh. The fighters swept in from the sea. A German officer in an open car stood up and drew his revolver when a hail of lead from the leading fighter knocked him backwards. The fighters swept on, raked the landing grounds and shot up a train at the railway station and other targets around the station. The air officer commanding in the Western Desert, Air Vice-Marshal A. Coningham, has sent this message to the light bombers’ commander: ‘Please congratulate your squadrons. They are hitting the enemy hard. The Army is appreciative.” AMERICAN PILOTS Successes Gained In Desert (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 31. Though for many of them the present large-scale fighting which is part of the Battle of Egypt is the first active service against the enemy which they have seen, pilots of the United States Army Air Forces in the Middle East have had notable success.

An agency correspondent says that in the first five days of LieutenantGeneral B. L. Montgomery’s offensive they shot down 22 enemy fighters for the loss of only two of their own planes. Brigadier General Strickland, Chief-of-Staff of the American Desert Air Force, attributes the success of his comparatively novice pilots to their courage, adaptability and superior flying technique.