DESTRUCTIVE ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1941, Page 6

DESTRUCTIVE ATTACKS

MADE ON ENEMY AIRCRAFT & TRANSPORT R.A.F. ACTIVITIES IN AFRICA & GREECE. SOUTH AFRICANS HARD AT WORK IN ABYSSINIA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, April 11. An R.A.F. Middle East communique from Greece states: “In bad weather, aircraft of the R.A.F. operated throughout yesterday in Northern Greece and Southern Yugoslavia, harassing the Germans by repeated bombing and machine-gun attacks. Enemy armed columns between Bitolj and Prilep were bombed and a number of tanks received direct hits. Several were destroyed and others overturned. Bombs fell close to the road and others burst near railway lines. Railway stores were attacked at Kocane and a petrol dump ten miles south-west of Prilep was set on fire. Heavy casualties were caused to enemy troops. “In Cyrenaica, our aircraft have continued to attack ceaselessly enemy troop concentrations and aerodromes. At Derna, six Heinkel Ill's and two unidentified aircraft on the ground were destroyed by one ■ of our fighter squadrons. In the same area, a Junkers 52 was shot down in flames. Near Tobruk, a Messerschmitt 110 was shot down by the same squadron. Motor transport was machine-gunned in the Gazaia area and at least eight enemy armoured vehicles were destroyed. More enemy transport was wiped out in the Acroma area. Our bombers carried out many sorties and caused much damage. ’ “In Abyssinia, aircraft of the South African Air Force have continued to harass the retreating enemy. “From all these operations, our aircraft returned safely, except two fighters in Cyrenaica. The pilots of both are believed to be safe.”