HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1942, Page 4

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL

FIGHTER & BOMBER ATTACKS IN LIBYA ENEMY VEHICLES SUFFER SEVERELY. WIDESPREAD OPERATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, January 29. A Middle East air communique stalos: Throughout yesterday our fighters and bombers carried out a series of highly successful attacks on enemy forces operating in Western Cyrenaica. Low-flying machine-gun and cannon attacks by our fighters achieved outstanding successes and in the Msus region a number of petrol lorries were burnt out and armoured fighting vehicles, as well as troop carrying transport and other 'mobile units severely damaged. Many enemy troops were killed. To the south of Benghazi at least fifty motor transport vehicles were destroyed and casualties again inflicted on enemy personnel. Other attacks were made throughout the battle area, where a number of tanks and motorised forces were raided with good results.

During Tuesday night our aircraft continued the bombing of enemy convoys and columns on the road between Agheila and Antelat. Fires were seen to break out among the enemy convoys, which also were machinegunned. Shipping in Tripoli harbour was raided during the same night. Hits were scored on the main quay and on the Spanish mole. Enemy motor traffic along the coast eastwards of Tripoli was also attacked. A Junkers 88 which was seen taking off from a Sicilian aerodrome of Comiso and a twinengined aircraft which was encountered over Augusta were both shot down. Enemy aircraft continued the raids on Malta on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday. Some damage was done.

From these and other operations two of our aircraft are missing.