AXIS TANK LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1943, Page 3

AXIS TANK LOSSES

33 KNOCKED OUT IN TWO DAVS DESTRUCTION OF AIR CONVOY. NORTH AFRICAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, April 23. A North Africa communique says: “The First Army yesterday carried out attacks in the Bouarada sector. All initial objectives were taken in face of vigorous opposition. Fighting' continues. It is now confirmed that the number of enemy tanks knocked out in the fighting on Tuesday and Wednesday was 33. “On the Eighth Army front, further strong counter-attacks were driven back, with considerable loss to the enemy, and all our gains are firmly held. “In a day of intensive activity medium and light bombers and fighter-bombers, escorted by fighters, carried out heavy and continuous attacks on enemy troops and positions. During these operations seven enemy machines were destroyed. “Spitfires and Kittyhawks on patrol over the Gulf of Tunis encountered a formation of twenty Messerschmitt 323 transport aircraft, escorted by fighters. During the ensuing combat all twenty of the Messerschmitt 323 s and ten escorting fighters were shot down. “Medium bombers successfully attacked Tunisian airfields and shipping and harbour installations at Carloforte, in Sardinia. One enemy aircraft was destroyed in combat. “Five of our aircraft are missing from all these operations.”

21ST ENEMY PLANE ’ SHOT DOWN BY GISBORNE AIRMAN. (Special P.A. Correspondent.) LONDON, April 22. The Associated Press correspondent at the Allied headquarters in North Africa reports that Squadron Leader Colin Gray, Gisborne, has shot down his 21st enemy plane —a Messerschmitt 109, in the Tunis area. Gray, whose squadron sighted five Messerschmitts, opened fire at 150 yards. He said, “I saw the fuselage hit and then, with smoke and flame pouring from it, the plane turned over and went down.”

MOST SUCCESSFUL RAID BY MALTA PLANES ON SYRACUSE. BASE BECOMES MASS OF FLAMES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, April 23. Fighter-bombers from Malta staged one of their most successful attacks on a seaplane base, factories and warehouses at Syracuse, in Sicily, states an agency message. Direct hits were made on the target area and the base became a mass of flames. Smoke from factories and warehouses rose a thousand feet. Great quantities of debris were thrown up from the entire target area.