DIRECT HITS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21367, 11 March 1941, Page 6

DIRECT HITS

AIR FORCE ACCURACY VERY SUCCESSFUL RAIDS WIDESPREAD DAMAGE (Ofncial Wireless) (Received March 11, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY. March 10 A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: In Abyssinia bombers of the Royal Air Force attacked an aerodrome at Diredawa and succeeded in carrying out the attack, although intercepted by a number of Italian fighters. They obtained a direct hit on a train which was approach mg the town and another on the station at Addagalla. Troop positions were bombed and machine-gunned by Royal Air Force bombers in the Keren area. Other bombers which were harassing an Italian column that was retreating from Burye bombed a village near Debra Marcos. In Libya the harbour at Tripoli was again attacked during the night of March 8 by Royal Air Force bombers and bombs were dropped on enemy aerodromes in Tripolitania. At Malta one Junkers 88 which attempted to reconnoitre Malta was engaged by our fighters and driven of?. Another of the same type crashed at Gozo and was burned out, all the crew being killed. From these operations all our planes returned safely. Co-operation With Navy An official air communique at Nairobi states: The South African Air Force co-operated with Navy frequently during the ceaseless watch an the coast of Italian Somaliland and in bombardments of Modun and a camp near Brava preceding the occupation of Mogadiscio. Much destruction followed the work of the South African Air Force at Modun. Two CR 42’s attacked the South African aircraft, but one was forced tc land by the fire of the rear gunner after being hit repeatedly. At Brava spotting by the South African Air Force was very accurate. Salvos of shells from the ships of the Royal Navy could be seen sailing among the tents of the Italians, who ran into the bush terrified by the sudden attack from the sea. Fires Caused at Durazzo Notable successes achieved by British fighters and bombers are officially announced from the Royal Air Force Headquarters in Greece. On the night of March 8 Royal Air Force bombers heavily attacked harbour installations at Durazzo. Several great fires broke out, growing in intensity. There were many explosions, and the fires could be seen 70 miles away. Yesterday the village of Dukai was successfully bombed. Motor transport concentrations and gun positions in the Clava Buzi area were also attacked. A small formation of British fighters on patrol encountered a large force of enemy bombers, accompanied by fighters. Six fighters and one heavy bomber were definitely shot down and a number of others seriously damaged. One of the British pilots had to abandon his aircraft and escaped by parachute, landing safely in the British lines. All the other aircraft returned safely. BURST IN FLAMES NAZI PLANE SHOT DOWN SUCCESS OF SHIP’S FIRE “ONLY A PATCH OF OlL’* (Omclal Wireless) (Received March 11, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 10 When a Norwegian merchant ship was attacked with machine-guns and bombs by a twin-engined German aircraft a prompt and effective reply was made from the defensive armament of the ship. The aircraft flew about 200 yards and then dived steeply, exploding • and bursting into flames as it hit the water. When the ship reached the spot where the aircraft had crashed there was nothing to be seen but a patch of oil on the water. The ship suffered no damage. The only casualty was one man slightly ■wounded by a machine-gun bullet. Hot Engagement An Admiralty communique states: A Heinkel 111 was hotly engaged and almost certainly destroyed on Saturday by His Majesty’s trawler Nadine. Visibilty was poor and the Heinkel ■was not actually seen to crash, but was last seen on fire and diving out of control towards the sea. No casualties were sustained by the Nadine. OLD WOMAN’S; BOMBED OUT OF HOME NAZI ATTACKS ON LONDON WORKERS’ TENEMENTS HIT (tnited Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyrlgtit) (Received March 11, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 10 Londoners again demonstrated their capacity to defeat attempts to set fire to the city when German bombers attacked last night. Firemen and fire-watchers put out hundreds of fires. The attack was not as concentrated as that on Saturday. High explosive bombs in one London area killed five people and seriously injured file, and damaged a house and gas mains. Four explosives fell across workers' tenements, burying a man and his ar«H hpr tiictrr u’hnsp hnHips

! J | were not recovered until morning. ! The frontages of a number of | houses elsewhere were cut off as i though by a huge knife, j Bombs demolished the suburban J home of Mrs Martha Paynter, aged ; 80 years. Neighbours vainly searched ; under the debris and later discovered Mrs Paynter asleep in an Anderson : shelter with four inches of water around her bed. I Another elderly woman was in bed .in an upstairs room when a bomb | blew out the roof and one wall. A I rescue party brought her down un- ! hurt. ; A German communique states: The i Luftwaffe attacked London, Ports--1 mouth and several harbours in the j south of England and Scotland. ' The Royal Air Force last last night : did not fly over the Reich and occuI pied territory.