AIR FORCE ACTIVITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1941, Page 6

AIR FORCE ACTIVITIES

IN AFRICA & BALKANS DAMAGING BLOWS STRUCK IN MANY AREAS. WITHOUT LOSS OF BRITISH MACHINES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY. April 8. • Striking successes by the R.A.F. and the Royal Australian Air Force in Cyrenaica during the past week are recorded in an R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states: "In Libya. R.A.F. aircraft and in Cyrenaica Australian aircraft have been operating continuously during the past week covering the concentration of our troops in new positions and harassing the enemy’s lines of communication. Our bombers raided aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Benghazi and, assisted by fighters, attacked enemy motor transport and troop concentrations ceaselessly. Detailed reports are not available, but during one day alone cur fighters shot down fourteen enemy aircraft, believed to bo German, without loss to themselves. On another day, four enemy aircraft were destroyed, again without loss.

"In the Balkans. German military concentrations were heavily attacked by R.A.F. aircraft during the night of April G at various places in Bulgaria. The railway station of Gorna Djumaya was bombed and several fires were started. At Simitly, concentrations were attacked. Bombs straddling the railway and road exploded near sheds, causing many fires. A. motor transport convoy was also successfully ma-chine-gunned. Petrich was raided by our bombers, but full results could not be observed, owing to smoke from the numerous fires burning in that area. "Yesterday, in bad weather conditions, bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked large motor transport concentrations near Strumica, just inside Yugoslavia. Direct hits were registered and much damage was caused. "In Abyssinia and East Africa, aircraft' of the South African Air Force have continued to give support to our advancing troops. Aerodromes at Dessie were heavily raided and barrack buildings set on fire. Damage was caused to dispersed enemy aircraft. Enemy troops and motor transport concentrations north of the town were machine-gunned, resulting in the destruction of a number of lorries and many casualties. "It is now learned that in the raid carried out on the aerodrome at Kombolcha on April G. ten enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Two CR42's were shot down by our fighter j escort. I

“R.A.F. bombers reported in yesterday's communique as missing have since returned to their base. There were no losses from our operations during the period under review.”