EFFECTIVE BLOWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1942, Page 4

EFFECTIVE BLOWS

STRUCK BY FIGHTER-BOMBERS.

AND OTHER ALLIED AIRCRAFT.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) RUGBY, August 3

Yesterday fighter-bombers were active in the forward area at El Alamein. An ’enemy reconnaissance unit, which included a number of motor and armoured vehicles, was located near Quattara and effectively attacked, says the R.A.F. Middle East news service. The enemy was taken by surprise, and as a result of bombing and subsequent ground strafing some twenty vehicles were 1 destroyed or damaged and a petrol dump was set on fire. In the central sector, operations were carried out against groups of motor transport. Direct hits and damaging near misses were obtained. Tobruk was again the principal objective for bomber aircraft on the night of August 1. Fires broke out among petrol installations and bombs were seen to fall in the close vicinity of ships in port. Our aircraft also raided objectives at Solium, Bardia, Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh. At Solium a ship was set on fire and later was reported to have blown up. A large fire was started at Bardia by naval aircraft assisting in this raid. Direct hits were scored on a jetty and on a lighter alongside. Other aircraft bombed the landing ground at Fuka. A successful dusk attack was carried out on a lighter off the Egyptian coast. A small force of enemy aircraft operated over the Alexandria area on the night of August 2. Our night fighters shot down a Heinkel 111 into the sea. Two of the crew were seen to bale out.