MOSTLY AMERICANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1943, Page 4

MOSTLY AMERICANS

MEN WHO DESTROYED AXIS TRANSPORTS IN SICILIAN STRAITS “MASSACRE” TOP COVER PROVIDED BY R.A.F. STAGGERING ENEMY LOSSES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 19. An official statement describes the destruction of 74 Axis planes for the loss of nine Allied machines as a “massacre,” and adds that the Axis fighters could do little to prevent it The Allied Desert Air Force arranged an ambush yesterday, to trap enemy planes crosing the Mediterranean narrows —crossings, which have been increasing in number for some time. Our fighters, after patrolling for most of the day, got what they wanted —a huge convoy of transports escorted by Messerschmitts. They went into action and destroyed the biggest number of enemy planes ever’ lost in a single action in the Mediterranean. About 100 Junkers were seen sneaking along at sea level. Warhawks dived on the Junkers, while Spitfires took on the Messerschmitts. “It was a nightmare,” says the National Broadcasting Corporation’s Algiers correspondent. The Junkers went down aflame. Some hit the sea. Others deliberately crash-landed on beaches. American fighters destroyed most of the total, while Allied fighters finished off others which landed on the beaches. It was practically an all-American operation, but R.A.F. fighters provided / the top cover. It is stated that 30 enemy planes were damaged in addition to the 74 shot down. The loss is bound to affect the German ability to move forces into and from Africa. CARRYING TROOPS 'LOST ENEMY AIR TRANSPORTS. ACCORDING TO ALGIERS RADIO. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. The great onslaught against the Axis air lifeline between Sicily i and Tunisia was continued today, « when ten more Junkers 52s and a 7 Messerschmitt fighter were shot « down. This, with the 58 transport f aircraft and 16 fighters brought “ down yestefday, makes the two - clays’ total over the Sicilian Straits 68 transport aircraft and 17 fight- ' ers, or 85 planes destroyed, with 30 cr more damaged. However, this is not the full story of the North African Air Force’s suc- ■ cesses, because planes destroyed over forward areas, over Algiers and else- ' where bring the two days’ total to 97. Moreover, with the destruction over \1 the Sicilian Straits in the past two days, the Allied air forces within a fortnight have brought down 159 great German transport aircraft. The Britisli United Press Cairo correspondent says it is reliably reported that the r latest enemy transport aircraft brought i down appeared to be carrying troops. ? It is believed possible that they were evacuatin gkey personnel. The Associated Press Algiers correspondent says definitely that the transport planes were carrying troops and , adds that whether this is the beginning of a large-scale effort by Rommel to evacuate his army is not yet clear. It is also not clear why the Axis took the risk yesterday of sending a hundred planes to Sicily in broad daylight, when they could have gone at night.