DESTROYED ON GROUND NEAR TRIPOLI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1943, Page 3

DESTROYED ON GROUND NEAR TRIPOLI

Splendidly Successful Raid by Flying Fortresses AMERICANS ALSO SHOOT DOWN FOURTEEN MESSERSCHMITTS AIR ONSLAUGHTS .ON ROMMEL FROM BOTH ENDS OF FRONT LONDON, January 13. Allied Headquarters in North Africa report a big raid by Flying Fortresses on an enemy aerodrome at Castel Benito, 20 miles south of Tripoli. Bombs were seen to burst among enemy aircraft on the ground. The communique does not say howmany aircraft were destroyed but correspondents estimate the number to be at least 20, with many others damaged. Buildings near the airfield were also hit and fires were started. On the way home the Flying Fortresses were engaged by Messerschmitt 109 s but they gave up when fourteen had been shot down. All the Fortresses got back safely. Marauder bombers attacked targets between Sousse and Sfax and Lightning fighters attacked a variety of ground targets. Only one plane failed to get home from these attacks. The Germans lost two planes in an attempted attack on one of the Allied airfields. On land, the only news is of continued patrol activity on the central front. In Tripolitania there is still no important change in the situation on land. The R.A.F. is keeping up attacks from the east over a wide area, and, with the Flying Fortress raids from the west, Rommel is experiencing the effect of bombing from two sides.