FIVE SHOT DOWN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 247, 26 July 1940, Page 6

FIVE SHOT DOWN

FATE OF ITALIAN AIRCRAFT.

FALL INTO SEA OFF LIBYA.

BRITISH SUCCESS ELSEWHERE

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received This Hay, 1.15 p.m.) CAIRO, July 25.

An official communique states: “A patrol of five Gladiators escorting Blenheim bombers engaged and shot down five of seven enemy fighters into thg sea off Libya. Blenheims raided Derna and dropped bombs in the middle of 50 enemy fighters and bombers on the ground. There were no British losses.

“It is now revealed that the Gladiator reported as missing on Wednesday made a forced landing on the British side of the frontier.”

A Nairobi communique states: “Our ’planes yesterday reconnoitred the Ahvnk area, bombed a small concentration of troops and destroyed one motor vehicle.”

DETAILS OF THE ACTION.

, HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL RAIDS.

DAMAGE AMONG 50 PLANES

(Rpceivcd This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 25

A Royal Air Force communique issued in Cairo states: “The Gladiator fighter reported missing has been found. Tire pilot is safe. lll.fi. aircraft was compelled to make a forced landing on our side of the line. This means that in the engagement in which six of our fighters met 18 enemy fighters we succeeded in shooting down four enemy aircraft with a possible fifth, without the loss of a mail or a plane. In addition, a highly-successful raid was carried out to-day by Blenheims on Derna. Over 50 enemy fighters were found on the ground and did not disperse. All the bombs, lell among them causing considerable damage. A fighter patrol of five Gladiators protecting the returning bombers’ encountered seven enemy fighters and shot down five into the sea. All our aircraft returned safely.”—British Official Wireless.

RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF.

THREE ATTACKS ON GIBRALTAR.

(Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) ALGECIRAS, July 25. Anti-aircraft gunfire drove off planes over Gibraltar three times to-day.