FAR & WIDE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1941, Page 6

FAR & WIDE

R.A.F. OPERATIONS

IN MEDITERRANEAN AREA & AFRICA.

BLOWS STRUCK AT MANY

POINTS

(British Official Wireless.* (Received This Day. 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY. February 2. In addition to the raid on Valona mentioned in an earlier message today, further activities by British fighters and bombers in the Mediterranean and Red Sea areas are described in a communique from the R.A.F. Middle East headquarts rs.

This states that, offensive fighter patrols, bombing raids and reconnaissances continued throughout the Middle East yesterday. When a number of enemy aircraft flew over Malta yesterday, they were attacked by our fighters and two CR.42’s were destroyed. In Italian East Africa, bombers of the South African Air Force attacked concentrations of motor transport at Mega and lavcllo. Direct hits were registered on vehicles. Aerodromes at Zula and Elghena (Eritrea) were bombed and a number of direct hits obtained on military buildings. Assab also was attacked and a store and dumps were hit. Normal fighter patrols were maintained. Two damaged enemy aircraft were observed on the ground at Barce. From all these operations our aircraft returned without loss. ITALIAN CLAIMS i By Telegraph—Press Association—-Copyrit’hn (Received This Day 11.30 a.m.) * LONDON. February 2. An Italian communique claims that the German Air Force operating in the Mediterranean, bombed Solium and Bardia. sunk a 10.000-ton vessel in Bardia Harbour and also sank three and damaged three ships with bombs along the North African coast. The communique adds: “There inothing of importance to report from Libya, where our Air Force bombed enemy troops. The enemy raided our air bases, doing some damage. “Bitter fighting occurred in East Africa. between Agordat and Barehtu. Cur Air Force participated, fighting, bombing and machine-gunning enemy positions and columns.”