SIX NAZI PLANES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1941, Page 5

SIX NAZI PLANES

SHOT DOWN IN LIBYA. BY AUSTRALIANS ITALY’S HEAVY LOSSES OF AIRCRAFT. WRECKAGE AT DIREDAWA. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 5. A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: “In Libya there was considerable activity over western Cyrsnaica yesterday and on the previous day. “Fighters of the Royal Australian Air Force on offensive patrols shot down three Messerschmitt 110’s and three Junkers 88’s as well as severely damaging others, which probably failed to return to their base. The Australian squadron suffered no casualties. "Enemy troops and motor transport were bombed in the regions of Msus and Jedabya while on the road from Ras Lanuf. A very heavy raid was made on Tripoli. One fire was caused which was visible for several miles and a number of loud explosions occurred .to the north-east of the Governor’s offices. “In Eritrea and Abyssinia the R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. continued to give effective support to our troops. Metahapa Station, east of Addis Ababa, was bombed and machine-gunned as also was motor transport near Awash. “When the Diredawa aerodrome was occupied by our troops the following aircraft were found: One CR42, four S79’s, 51 SBl’s, four CAl33’s, and three RO37’s, all in a damaged condition. Four other S79’s and two CAl33’s were destroyed by fire. These figures do not include the aircraft shot down over Diredawa and old fuselages discovered in the hangars. “In Crete enemy aircraft raided the Heraklion aerodrome yesterday but there were no casualties and very little damage was caused. One CR42 was shot down in flames by anti-aircraft fire. "All our aircraft returned safely.”