HELPING THE ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1941, Page 6

HELPING THE ARMY

AIRCRAFT ON THE AFRICAN FRONTS

DAMAGE DONE IN MANY AREAS.

ENGAGEMENTS IN LIBYA

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, February 20. A R.A.F. Middle East communique states:—

“In Eritrea and Abyssinia, in support of the Army offensive in Italian East Africa, the R.A.F. carried out yesterday a number of raids on important military objectives. Despite bad weather. attacks were made on a motor transport park and repair shops at Bessie and on transport moving along the roads north and cast of Dessie. Direct hits were registered on the workshops and these were followed by large columns of black smoke. A number of vehicles on the roads were left in flames after machine-gun attacks. “At Asmara, bombs were dropped on buildings and hangars at the aerodrome. Fighter aircraft of the South African Air Force in this area made a successful attack on enemy aerodromes. destroying two OR.42’s. two CA.l33’s and three 'S.79’s. while three South African Air Force bombers heavily attacked the barracks at Yavcllo.

In Italian Somaliland, other squadrons carried out an offensive reconnaissance in support of our troops in the Juba River area.

“In Libya, enemy aircraft raided Benghazi yesterday, shortly after dawn. One Heinkel 11 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Further attacks were made in the afternoon by Junkers 88’s. escorted by Messerschmitts 110. One Junkers" was damaged by our fighters. “While covering operations by our advanced forces, three Hurricanes engaged a formation of Messerschmitts 110. Two of our aircraft are missing and one is safe. “It is now confirmed that fighters of the Royal Australian Air Force, in an engagement with Gorman aircraft reported in a communique yesterday, shot down two additional Junkers 87’s. making three in all. “From all the other operations our aircraft returned safely/’ ITALIAN REPORT (Received This Dav. 12.10 p.m.) • LONDON. February 20 An Italian communique states: “An enemy column of transport lorries attempting to approach our positions at Kufra were forced to withdraw, with considerable losses. The enemy again attacked on the lower Juba with great violence in order to cross the river.”