BUSY AS EVER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 January 1942, Page 4

BUSY AS EVER

AIRCRAFT IN THE MIDDLE EAST ENEMY IM LIBYA GIVEN NO RESPITE. THE ATTACKS ON GREECE & CRETE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) RUGBY, January 1. A R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “Yesterday our fighter and bomber aircraft continued their operations against motorised and armoured units of the enemy forces in the Jedabya region. Bomber aircraft again successfully attacked enemy motor transport on the coastal road between Suara and Homs on December 30. Considerable damage was done to convoys of lorries and petrol tankers and many casualties were caused by machinegun attacks. During the night of December 30, an aerodrome, barracks and motor transport sheds at Misurata were effectively raided.

“Military objectives in Greece and Crete were also raided by our bomber aircraft during Tuesday night. Direct hits were scored on munitions factories and the submarine base at Salamis. while at Piraeus green explosions followed by an orange-coloured fire, resulted from an attack on a chemical work. Oil installations, the aerodrome at Heraklion and objectives at Maleme were also attacked.

“Enemy aircraft raided Malta during Tuesday night and again in daylightyesterday. Some damage was caused, particularly to civilian property. One Messerschmitt 109 was shot down by naval gunfire. “From these and other operations, two of our aircraft are missing.”