RAID ON MALTA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 5

RAID ON MALTA

SEVEN ENEMY PLANES SHOT DOWN SIX OTHERS PROBABLY DESTROYED. HEAVY DAYLIGHT ATTACK. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.29 a.m.) RUGBY’ February 27. Seven enemy aircraft were shot down and six more probably destroyed during a big daylight raid on Nlalta yesterday. A Malta R.A.F. communique states at midday a heavy attack was made on our airfields by dive bombers, escorted by fighters. The enemy were engaged by our fighters and anti-aircraft guns put up a heavy barrage. The enemy losses by our fighters were two confirmed and six possible and anti aircraft fire accounted for five. The enemy losses are confirmed.

LARGE SCALE ATTACK GERMAN RED CROSS PLANE SEARCHES SEA. 1 FOR POSSIBLE SURVIVORS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav, 10.30 a.m.'* RUGBY, February 27. A considerable force of enemy aircraft attempted a large scale attack on Malta yesterday. Forty German bombers, escorted by nearly as many fighters, attacked the aerodrome at Luga. Some damage was caused to R.A.F. property but there were no casualties to R.A.F. personnel. British fighters, although greatly outnumbered, immediately attacked the enemy, and two Junkers 87’s were shot down and a number of others probably destroyed. Anti-aircraft fire accounted for five Junkers 87's while others were so damaged that it was unlikely they returned to their base. The German casualties are such, in fact, that three hours after the raid a Red Cross seaplane, accompanied by a large force of enemy fighters searched the sea north of the island for nearly an hour, endeavouring to find some of their miss-! ing personnel. British fighters were! attacked by an enemy lighter escort, i and in the engagement one Messerschmitt was severely damaged. Three British fighters tire missing.