FOUR TO ONE VICTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1943, Page 3

FOUR TO ONE VICTORY

WON BY ALLIED AIR FORCES IN TUNISIA , Forty-eight Axis Aircraft Destroyed in Combat MANY OTHERS SMASHED ON AIRFIELDS ENEMY DESTROYER BLOWN UP & THREE SUPPLY SHIPS LEFT ON FIRE LONDON, April 6. . Forty-eight Axis aircraft were shot down in the Tunisian area yesterday. It was a four to one victory, as the Allied losses were 12 planes. * Thirty-one of the Axis planes were destroyed by American Lightnings off the Tunisian coast. The Americans were on • patrol on the Axis air supply route when they ran into a large formation of German transport aircraft heading for North Africa. In 25 minutes the Americans had shot down 18 transport planes, six dive-bombers and seven fighters. Other aircraft attacked a convoy off the coast. They blew up a destroyer and left three supply vessels on fire. Tn Sicily, Flying Fortresses attacked between 50 and 70 enemy aircraft on one airfield and smothered them with bombs. On another airfield they claimed that 30 were wrecked. A constant stream of heavy bombers is being sent from the United States to North Africa. This was revealed in London by a high ranking officer of the R.A.F., who has just returned from a visit to North Africa. Eighth Army Strikes FIRST OBJECTIVES CAPTURED IN WADI AKARIT OPERATIONS PROCEEDING ACCORDING TO PLAN (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.22 a.m.) RUGBY, April 6. IT IS ANNOUNCED FROM NORTH AFRICA THAT THE BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY ATTACKED IN THE WADI AKARIT AT 4.30 THIS MORNING. THE FIRST OBJECTIVES WERE CAPTURED ■ AND THE ATTACK IS PROCEEDING ACCORDING TO PLAN. AMERICANS STRIKE ALSO PROGRESS EAST OF EL GUETAR LONDON, April 6. The Americans have launched a new attack to synchronise with the Eighth Army’s operations. East of El Guetar the Americans have captured two important heights and are pressing on steadily towards the coast in spite of tough enemy resistance. Some American infantry forces have moved forward five miles along the road towards the coast. The Axis air losses yesterday are now placed at 52.