AIR ACTIVITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 July 1942, Page 4

AIR ACTIVITY

ATTACKS IN BATTLE AREA AND ON ENEMY BASES. DAMAGE DONE TO TRANSPORT & SHIPS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 15. British air activity on the North African battle area and over Malta is outlined by the Middle East Air Ministry neWs service. Strenuous attacks were made on enemy land forces throughout Tuesday, when fighterbombers not only broke the previous day’s recdrd for the number of sorties, but als'o did impressive damage. Day bombers scored at least six direct hits on enemy vehicles, one of which blew up. Fighter-bomber pilots, observed ten direct hits on other vehicles. Another attack was made on a convoy of large troop-carrying vehicles, from which all the troops fled on the approach of the British planes. A group consisting of one tank, two armoured and twelve motor vehicles was also attacked. Only one vehicle survived destruction or severe damage. Another target was a formation of tanks and armoured cars. Six tanks and two armoured cars received direct hits. The Luftwaffe attempted several times to interfere, but was engaged either by fighter escorts or by patrolling fighter squadrons. Fighter-bombers destroyed one Messerschmitt 109 and fighters shot down three of the same type and one CR 42. Several other enemy aircraft were damaged On the night of July 12, heavy and medium bombers raided Benghazi and Tobruk. The United States Army Air Corps participated in the Benghazi attack, where a large ship was set on fire. Fires were also started at Tobruk, where another ship was claimed to have been hit. Naval aircraft on the same night bombed enemy tank concentrations and transport in the battle area, starting. fires and blowing up vehicles. Three enemy machines were destroyed and others damaged when Spitfires intercepted a raid on Malta on Tuesday. , . , British fighters, in a low-level at-

tack on. small enemy naval craft in the Mediterranean on the night of July 13, scored many hits with cannon and ma-chine-gun fire. Ten British aircraft are missing from all these operations, but one pilot is safe.