ITALY’S AFRICAN & MEDITERRANEAN AIR FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1941, Page 5

ITALY’S AFRICAN & MEDITERRANEAN AIR FORCES

Widespread and Successful R.A.F. Operations PROGRESS IN THE LAND CAMPAIGNS IMPORTANT GAINS MADE IN ERITREA The latest R.A.F. communique from the Middle East throws further light on what British airmen are doing to sweep the Italian air force from the African and Mediterranean skies, a 8.8. C. broadcast states. The communique mentions that 86 unserviceable enemy aircraft were found on the Benina aerodrome near Benghazi. These included two German bombers, a Heinkel 111 and a Junkers 88. Further attacks have been made on aerodromes in the island of Rhodes. In one of these bombs were dropped from a low level on hangars and administrative buildings at Maritza. Fires and explosions were caused at other aerodromes, among buildings and dispersed aircraft on the ground. Other effective raids have been made on Addis Ababa, the capital of Abyssinia, on Keren and Asmara, in Eritrea, on the road between Keren and Asmara, and on stores dumps northeast of Keren. In Italian Somaliland, the South African Air Force heavily attacked an important administrative and caravan centre. Considerable damage was done. From the whole of these operations all but one of the aircraft returned safely. A correspondent in Eritrea states that the bombing of the road between Asmara and Keren was intended to prevent reinforcements reaching the latter place, which is now surrounded. Indian troops are playing ail important and gallant part in the operations in Eritrea. The new thrust into Eritrea from the north has penetrated between 30 and 40 miles. In North Africa, the British Imperial forces are reported to be making satisfactory progress in clearing up the battlefield south of Benghazi. It is stated also that a watch has been kept on the isolated oasis of Jarabub and that reinforcements have been prevented from reaching the garrison, which must by now be in a tight corner.