Malta Continues To Take Heavy Toll Of Axis Air Raiders

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1942, Page 3

Malta Continues To Take Heavy Toll Of Axis Air Raiders

British Official Wireless.

Rugby, Aug. 30. After months of heroic defence in the face of constant pounding by enemy aircraft Malta has turned the tables on the Axis and is proving more of a troublesome thorn in its side than ever. In 24 hours the island has destroyed 14 enemy aircraft for certain and done much material damage to the Axis. On Wednesday night, says the Air Ministry news service, the enemy sent over a small number of bombers. They did no military damage and two of them were shot down and another probably destroyed. That night R.A.F. fighters attacked a seaplane base in Sicily. A seaplane was shot down and a motor vessel was shot up. In the after - noon Spitfires swarmed- across "the Sicilian coast at almost ground level, raking with cannon and machine-guns hangars, huts, barracksj7siores buildings and railway water-tanks.- Fitters working in Italian aircraft were killed and aircraft were attacked in the air and in the act of taJcing off. The aerodromes were enveloped in dense smoke when the aircraft left after having destroyed four bombers and two fighters in the air ahd three bombers and one fighter on the ground. Many others were probably destroyed or damaged. On the way home three schooners were shot up. At dusk an Axis convoy was attacked with torpedoes and bombs. A mediumsized merchant vessei was hit squarely amidships and sunk, and an escorting destroyer was shot up and left smoking. An Italian bomber which attempted to interfere was shot down and a fighter was damaged. Bombers made a second attack on Sicily on Thursday and scored hits on two aerodromes and hangars. Cars and a large building with all its lights on were shot up. During the whole of these activities Malta lost only three fighters.