SEVEN DESTROYED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 162, 22 April 1942, Page 3

SEVEN DESTROYED

SEVEN OTHERS DAMAGED. MALTA’S FOUR NIGHT ALERTS, SOME CIVILIAN DAMAGE. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright). (Hoc. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, April 21. The Royal Air Force destroyed one bomber and two lighters and damaged four bombers during further enemy raids on Malta, according to messages from the A totajl tof seven enemy aircraft was destroyed and seven damaged. Soon after the alert at dawn one of the heaviest attacks for a fortnight developed against tin* harbour and aerodromes. A large number ol divebombers, escorted by fighters, took part. Heavy and light anti-aircraft gunfire destroyed two bombers and damaged two others. Early in the afternoon a second heavy attack was made on the same objectives. Again the raiders were intensively engaged, two more bombers being destroyed and one fighter damaged. Last night the island had four alerts for single raiders which crossed the coast and dropped! some bombs. There wore some civilian casualties and damage.—British Official Wireless. HEAVIEST FOR A FORTNIGHT. SEVEN ENEMY SHOT DOWN. LONDON, April 21. Malta’s defences have again taken a heavy toll of Axis raiders. The island’s anti-aircraft defences shot down seven more German aeroplanes yesterday, five of them bombers. At least seven others were hit. The raids were the heaviest for at least a fortnight. Considerable civilian damage was done, but so far lew casualties have been reported. The raids were against the harbour and aerodromes. It is now known that the Luftwaffe lost four aeroplanes ever the island on Sunday, three bombers and one fighter. An anti-aircraft officer who has returned from Malta has given an account of the bombing of the island. For the German, dive-bombers there is general respect for the way in which they defy the barrage, but there is hitter hatred among the Maltese for their utterly ruthless attacks on any target. The Italians almost invariably maintain a formation of five and travel straight over the island without losing height. They make an excellent antiaircraft target. They have admittedly been scrupulous in attacking military objectives. The officer said that the dive-bomb-ers attacking, the aircraft-carrier Illustrious and other vessels in Valetta harbour were riddled with shell or bullet holes from a terrific barrage. They swept so low over the heads of the gunners that the gunners folt they had only to stretch up their hands to pull them down. A high tribute was paid to the Maltese auxiliary civilian as well as military services