SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1941, Page 5

SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS

ON ENEMY SHIPS & BASES MADE BY ROYAL AIR FORCE IN MEDITERRANEAN. BENGHAZI AND BARDIA BOMBED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY, August 29. Successful R.A.F. attacks on enemy ships in the Mediterranean are recorded in the latest R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states: “Heavy bombers of the R.A.F. carried out an attack on the harbour of Benghazi during the night of August 27 and a number of fires were started at the base of the outer mole. “Bombers of a South African squadron heavily attacked an enemy dump near Bardia • yesterday ©nd a large number of bombs were seen to fall on the target. The port was also bombed by R.A.F. medium bombers. “Our aircraft also attacked enemy barrack blocks near Homs, completely demolishing a building. Our fighters carried out a large number of offensive patrols throughout yesterday. “During the night of August 27, aircraft of the Fleet'Air Arm attacked a convoy of four merchant vessels, escorted by four destroyers. A ship was hit by bombs and, after a number of explosions had occurred on board, the vessel was seen' to be on fire. “Medium bombers of the R.A.F. attacked two enemy vessels in the central Mediterranean yesterday and obtained hits on each. One ship, which was emitting brown smoke from its hold, stopped and was seen to be down by its stern. Bombs went right through the decks of the other vessel. “Up to the cessation of hostilities in Iran, full air support was given by the R.A.F. to the successful operations carried out by our land forces. '•From all these operations all our aircraft returned safely.”