MANY BLOWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1943, Page 3

MANY BLOWS

STRUCK BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT OVER BATTLE ZONE &IN ' ENEMY PORTS. TROOPSHIP LEFT ON FIRE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, March 23. “On Sunday night enemy concentrations between Mareth and Kettana were bombed and our bombers also attacked an enemy airfield near Sfax,” states a North African communique. “Yesterday Western Desert Air Force fighters attacked concentrations of enemy tanks and armoured cars south of El Hamma. Thirty-two tanks were hit and at least nine of them destroyed. Light bombers attacked enemy positions south of Zarat and the fighter escort destroyed three enemy fighters. Targets in the same area were attacked by fighter-bombers. The enemy airfield at Mezzouna was attacked by formations of medium and light bombers and fires were started among aircraft on the ground. During these raids and offensive patrols by our fighters, nine enemy aircraft were destroyed. Enemy vehicles were hit during a low-level attack by our fighters, which continued throughout the day. Other vehicles were destroyed on the northern front by our fighter-bombers. “Docks at Palermo, in Sicily, were heavily bombed in raids and hits were seen on ships and along the quays. Six enemy fighters were shot down. “Between Sicily and Tunisia an enemy convoy was attacked by our bombers. A troopship was hit and left on. fire. Hits were also seen on a large supply ship and an escort vessel. In combats with enemy air escorts, eight enemy aircraft were destroyed. “From these operations seven of our aircraft are missing but one pilot is known to be safe.”