AIRCRAFT ACTIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1941, Page 6

AIRCRAFT ACTIVE

OPERATIONS IN MIDDLE EAST MESSERSCHMITTS SHOT DOWN AT TOBRUK. HEAVY RAIDS ON AXIS BASES & TROOPS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, May 2. A communique from the R.A.F. in the Middle East states: “In Cyrenaica yesterday, R.A.F. aircraft continued their attacks on enemy positions and communications, as well as affording protection to our forces against attack from the air during ground operations. “Enemy dive-bombers and fighters which appeared in large numbers over Tobruk, to support the operations of their ground troops, were engaged by our fighters. Three Messerschmitt 109’s were shot down in flames. “During last night and on the preceding night our bombers raided the harbour and other military objectives at Benghazi. Large numbers of incendiary bombs were dropped on shipping and one vessel was set on fire. An ammunition dump was also blown up and large fires followed the explosion. “The aerodrome at Benina was again bombed and enemy transport near Acroma, in the Tobruk area, was both bombed and machine-gunned, many direct hits being observed on lorries, and casualties were caused among the troops. "In Abyssinia, enemy positions were attacked at Amba Alagi and near Alomata, and an enemy fortress in the pass at Falag was heavily bombed, about fifty direct hits being observed. “From the above operations one of our aircraft is missing.”