STOP PRESS NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 6

STOP PRESS NEWS

AIRMEN HELP NAVY ITALIANS’ BIG LOSS LONDON, August 18

Details of the valuable assistance given by the Royal Air Force in co-

operating with the British naval forces in the bombardment of Bardia and Capuzzo aro given in a Cairo communique, which says that combined operations were carried out by naval forces and the Royal Air Force in the region of Bardia on Saturday. Nine enemy aircraft wore destroyed and

two more probably lost. Our fighters escorted the Fleet while the battleships bombarded Bardia and Capuzzo. They first encountered an Italian fly-ing-boat shadowing the Navy. This was shot down in flames. Shortly afterwards the Fleet was attacked by Savoia 79’s. These were intercepted by Ruyal Air Force pilots and dispersed, two being shot down into the Then a large force of Savoia attacked the Fleet and two more wore sent down in flames and a third was chased until it ended by breaking up The Fleet Air Arm accounted for another Savoia 79, which fell in flames to the sea. Another is believed to have been destroyed. A further encounter between our fighters and the enemy rosulted in another Italian bomber bolng shot down and one more unconfirmed enemy loss. Finally yet another Savoia 19 was compolled to make a forced landing in the desert. The aircraft was captured intact and the crew made prisoners. We had no losses in aircraft. One pilot was slightly wounded but was able to bring his aeroplane to the base safely.. Patrolling in the vicinity of Karaman Island, in the Red Sea, off tho Arabian coast, a Savoia 81 was shot down in flames by British aircraft. One enemy raider at Alexandria on the night of August 16 was compelled by our defences to make a forced landing intact in the western desert. Tho crew was captured. Various harassing raids were made on Saturday in Somaliland, direct hits being scored at Hargeisa. One of our aircraft was forced to land on the sea but the crew was saved.