PUNISHING BLOWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1941, Page 6

PUNISHING BLOWS

STRUCK BY ROYAL AIR FORCE IN SARDINIA, SICILY & NORTH AFRICA. DAMAGE TO ENEMY EASES & PLANES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 26. Extensive operations over Italy. Sardinia. Sicily and Libya are recorded in a Middle East R.A.F. communique which states: "Successful attacks on enemy aircraft bases in Sardinia were carried out by aircraft of the R.A.F. yesterday. At Elinas, a Sardinian base and aerodrome was raided and a large number of seaplanes on the water were severely damaged as well as other enemy aircraft, attacked in the air over the target. "Cui' aircraft also engaged and damaged enemy bombers off the Sicilian coast. At Marsala, in Sicily, seaplanes were machine-gunned and damaged. A number of aircraft on the ground at Eorizo, in Siqiliy, were extensively damaged and ground crews were machine-gunned. Much material damage was caused at Porto Empezlocle. where direct hits were obtained on electrical plant and a warehouse. Barrack buildings at a road bridge in the neighbourhood also were attacked and direct hits were scored on the bridge. "In the Gulf of Taranto our aircraft successfully bombed a medium-sized merchant vessel, which was set on fire. When our aircraft left the scene of attack the ship had practically sunk. “On the night of September 26 the harbour, a railway track and warehouses al Agrigento were bombed, a large fire breaking out at the latter objective. “In North Africa, during daylight operations yesterday, our aircraft attacked Bardia harbour and store dumps in the neighbourhood of the town. Enemy fighters attacked our aircraft and, in ensuing air combats, one Messerschmitt 109 was shot down’ while others were severely damaged. “Motor transport at Mersa Lukk was also raided. “From all these operations five of our aircraft are missing.”