MUCH AIR ACTIVITY
IN SPITE OF OUST STORMS ENEMY MOVE FIRST SEEN BY HEAVY BOMBERS. AMERICAN AIRCRAFT TAKING FULL PART. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY, September 1. It is noteworthy that not a single fighter pilot was lost in the intense air battles over the battle area in Egypt yesterday, says a Cairo agency message, although several R.A.F. aircraft were damaged. The new medium American bombers known as Mitchell 825 took an active part in the clay’s successful attacks. This high-speed twin-engined medium bomber is said to be the fastest aircraft of its kind now operating on this front. Six enemy aircraft were destroyed over the El Alamein area during yesterday’s numerous ■ fierce encounters. Heavy bombers carried out lowlevel attacks on enemy forces and were the first to discover that the Axis] forces were on the move, when large formations cf enemy motor transport and tanks were seen moving towards a minefield north and south cf Gebel Kalak, 25 miles south-scuth-west of El Alamein. British bombers attacked in formation, scoring a number of hits and starting many fires. Having returned to their base, they reloaded io resume the attack. Soon after daybreak, _ Baltimore bombers made a heavy raid on the same forces, in face of intense light and heavy anti-aircraft lire. This was followed by a Boston raid on a concentration of 2,000 motor transport vehicles and tank carriers. Subsequently one of the worst dust storms of the year centred round the bases of the British desert squadrons, grounding many aircraft. However, a number of interceptor fighter sweeps were carried out over the battle area and British bases. During these sweeps one Macchi 202 was destroyed. A formation of forty turned back despite its great superiority in numbers. The Stukas jettisoned their bombs, dived to ground level and made for home. Even so, three Stukas were destroyed and the main object of diverting their attack was accomplished. As the dust cleared in the'evening, another Stuka formation was caught in the El Ala-, mein area, in the act of bombing. I Those which had not already dropped | their bombs were forced to jettison I their load hastily and flee, while two cf the escorting fighters were destroyed without loss to ourselves. During the evening a strong force of’ British light bombers, heavily escorted, successfully resumed the bombing of- enemy transport. United States fighters and bombers participated in this raid.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1942, Page 3
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402MUCH AIR ACTIVITY Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1942, Page 3
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