RAID ON MALTA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1941, Page 5

RAID ON MALTA

SIXTEEN ENEMY AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN OVER A HUNDRED TAKE PART. ONLY ONE BRITISH PLANE LOST. Sixteen enemy aircraft were shot down during Wednesday's heavy raid on Malta, states an Air Ministry communique broadcast by the 8.8. C. Over a hundred enemy planes took part. British fighters accounted for seven and nine were destroyed by anti-air-craft gunfire. Only one British fighter was shot down. Some damage was done to buildings but there were no casualties to R.A.F. personnel. STRIKING SUCCESS SEVERAL OTHER ENEMY PLANES DAMAGED. MAY NOT HAVE REACHED ■■ BASE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, March 7. A striking air success in an engagement with Germans over Malta is recorded in an R.A.F. Middle East communique, which reads: "Malta: Sixteen enemy aircraft were shot down during a heavy raid on Malta on March 5. Our fighters accounted for two Junkers 88’s, two Junkers 87’s, one Junker# 115 and two Messerschmitt 119’s. In addition, one Messerschmitt 110 and eight other enemy aircraft were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire. Several other enemy aircraft were damaged and it was doubtful whether they managed to return to their base. In this engagement, Un which enemy aircraft numbered over a hundred, only one R.A.F. fighter was shot down. Some damage was caused to buildings but there were no casualties to R.A.F. personnel.”