ITALIANS DOWNED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 250, 30 July 1940, Page 5

ITALIANS DOWNED

FIGHTS OVER MEDITERRANEAN.

RECONNAISSANCES IN AFRICA.’

RAIDER. ON MALTA CRASHES.

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.)

LONDON, July 20

A Royal Air Force communique issued at Cairo states: “Several reconnaissance flights were carried out over Eastern Libya by bombing aircraft, escorted by fighters. During one of those a large formation of enemy fighters was met and in the subsequent action one enemy plane was shot down. One of our aircraft is missing. During another reconnaissance two Italian fighters seen on the ground were attacked and both destroyed by fire.

“In Italian East Africa a bombing and machine-gunning attack was made on an aerodrome at Mille. One Italian bomber was totally destroyed and two others damaged. French pilots and crews operated with the Royal Air Force and carried out valuable reconnaissance work in the Diredawa ai’ea.

“A Sunderland flying-boat patrolling the Mediterranean attacked three ships. The result of the bombing is not yet known. The Sunderland was attacked by three formations of enemy monoplane fighters but. maintained a running action throughout its return flight. One Italian fighter was shot down in flames and another driven down out of control. The Sunderland returned safely. “Another Sunderland on patrol was also attacked by enemy fighters, one of which broke up in the air. Another gave up the. combat in a badly-damaged condition. The Sunderland returned safely to its base.

“Enemy bombers escorted; by a dozen fighters raided Malta yesterday. Only slight damage was done. One enemy fighter was brought down by anti-air-craft fire and crashed into the sea.”— British Official Wireless,. ... ....... , v i.

ATTACK IN. THE DESERT. ;

BOMBERS CAUSE CASUALTIES. I ENEMY (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. I A Cairo communique states: “In] Egypt, in the western desert, an observation patrol of light armoured fighting vehicles which bad~peneti;ated far behind the enemy’s lines tWas ..spot- 1 ted arid subjected ,tc?& lowflying Attack and fighters,-:There l to both men. and 1 vehicles. “On other fronts there is nothing of importance.” A Nairobi communique states; “'Olur Air Force successfully bombed concen-i trations of enemy troops and a, camel train post, in the ' neighbourhood of Moyale. Only light anti-aircraft onuosition was encountered.” —British Official Wireless. CLAIMS BY ITALIANS. ATTACKS ON ARMOURED CARS. AN AERIAL BATTLE WAGED. (Received This Day, 9.0 a.m.) ROME, July 29. A communique states : “Beyond the frontier of Cyrenaiea Italian aviation units'pursued bombing and machinegunixing actions against enemy formations of armoured ears, making effective hits. In an aerial battle two enemy ’planes were shot clown. Two of our ’planes failed to return.