MUCH DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1941, Page 6

MUCH DAMAGE

INFLICTED ON ENEMY COLUMNS SUCCESSFUL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS. BUSES & TRANSPORT BATTERED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.41 a.m.) RUGBY, December 1. A R.A.F. Cairo communique states: “in close co-operation with the Imperial Land forces, our bomber and fighter aircraft carried out a series of successful operations in Libya yesterday, in the course of which eighteen enemy aircraft were destroyed and considerable damage inflicted on enemy columns in the battle area. “Over El Gobbi, a combined force of R.A.F. and South African fighters intercepted a formation of enemy machines. In the aerial battle which followed, six Gsos, six Machis C2oos and three Junkers 88s were shot down and many other enemy aircraft were severely damaged. Three of our fighters were lost but all the pilots are safe. “Further forces of our fighters attacked the landing ground at Martuba, where two aircraft were destroyed on the ground and others were damaged. An ammunition dump and tents were hit and casualties were inflicted on enemy personnel. Vehicles on a road near Martuba were also effectively mach-ine-gunned. “In the Sidi Rezegh and El Duda regions, as well as along the road from El Adem to El Duda, heavy bombing raids were made on columns of enemy motor transport. Many vehicles were destroyed or overturned and explosions and fires were observed. “In an attempt by enemy aircraft to raid one of our landing grounds, a Junkers 88 was shot down and three members of the crew were captured. “On Saturday night, bomber aircraft raided Benghazi and «Derna. At Benghazi, bombs burst, on’the moles, while at Derna hits were obtained on the aerodrome.

“With the exception of the three fighters mentioned above, all our aircraft returned safely.”