RAID ON VALONA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1940, Page 5

RAID ON VALONA

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL R.A.F. OPERATION DIRECT HITS ON GIG SHIP. ATTACKS ON ENEMY TROOPS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.32 a.m.) RUGBY. November 27. R.A.F. bombers made a highly successful raid on Valona harbour, one of Italy’s disembarkation bases in Albania, despite intense antiaircraft fire and enemy fighter opposition. It is announced from British ai«force headquarters in Greece that: “Direct hits with heavy bombs were obtained on a big ship, which was seen to be in a sinking condition before our aircraft set off on their return journey. Damage was also done to quays in the docks area and buildings near a hangar were destroyed. One of several enemy monoplane fighters which attempted to intercept our aircraft was shot down, being seen to dive vertically with black smoke pouring from its front.

“A column of enemy troops, retreating in the Tepelen area in Albania was attacked by low-flying aircraft which caused heavy casualties. “Al Keleyre. a stick of bombs was laid across an aerodrome, one bomb exploding close to aircraft on the ground. “On Monday one of our aircraft returning from a raid, and while avoiding a formation of enemy fighters, came cut of cloud and met head-on another flight of fighters. The enemy fighters were surprised and, in attempting to evade our aircraft, broke formation and two collided. One was last seen diving to the ground in flames. From all these operations all our planes returned safely.”