NORMAL ACTIVITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1942, Page 3

NORMAL ACTIVITY

RESUMED IN LIBYA WITH ADVENT OF BETTER WEATHER. HEAVY ENEMY AIR LOSSES OVER MALTA. LONDON, April 21. In Libya normal patrol activity was resumed yesterday, with the advent of better weather. Our air operations have been on a bigger scale. A series of attacks were made on enemy troops and motor transport in the forward area. Our fighters shot down two Messerschmitts. In operations over Malta 12 more Axis planes have been destroyed in the 36 hours up to last night. A number of other enemy raiders limped away damaged. EFFECTIVE ATTACKS MADE BY ROYAL AIR FORCE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, April 21.

A R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “Air operations in Cyrenaica on April 20 were on an increased scale. Fighter aircraft carried out a series of effective attacks on enemy troops, encampments and motor transport vehicles in the forward area. Two Messerschmitts 109 were shot down. The harbour of Benghazi was again raided during Sunday night. Two of our aircraft are missing, but the pilots of both are safe.”

RAIDS ON MALTA HEAVY AND IN RAPID SUCCESSION. DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY PLANES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) RUGBY, April 21. The R.A.F. destroyed one bomber and two fighters and damaged four bombers during further enemy raids on Malta, according to messages from the island. In all seven enemy aircraft were destroyed and seven damaged. Soon after the alert at dawn, one of the heaviest attacks for a fortnight developed against the harbour and aerodromes. A large number of dive-bombers, escorted by fighters, took part. Heavy and light anti-air-craft gunfire destroyed two bombers and damaged two others. Early in the afternoon a second heavy attack was made on the same objectives and again the raiders were intensively engaged, two more bombers being destroyed and one fighter damaged. Last night the island had four alerts, for single raiders, which crossed the coast and dropped some bombs. There were some civilian casualties and damage.