FIGHTERS ON TOP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 141, 17 June 1941, Page 7

FIGHTERS ON TOP

AXIS PLANES DOWNED R.A.F. Bombers Start Huge Blaze At Bengasi British Official Wireless. Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, June 16. The R.A.F. Middle East communique states that yesterday lighters oF the R.A.F. and the South African Air Force engaged in several combats with enemy aircraft. Three Messerschmitts 109 and one Caproni -12 were shot down during the day. South African fighters attacked a formation of Junkers SS, strongly escorted by fighters and forced them to jettison their bombs before they could carry out their attack. Our aircraft also machine-gunned enemy columns, transport and armoured vehicles near Gazala, Capuzzo and Bardia, and disabled a number of vehicles. During the night of June 14-15 a successful raid was carried out on the harbour of Bengasi. A particularly violent explosion near the cathedral mole was followed by a fire of such magnitude that it was visible from a distance of 90 miles.

Bombing attacks were also made during the night on an enemy camp at Bardia and on the landing ground at Derna, where a large fire was started.

It is now confirmed that nine unidentified enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Gazala, in addition to the two reported in yesterday's communique, and that two further Messerschmitts 110 were sliot clown in addition, to that reported destroyed at Safari.

From all the Middle East operations, including Syria, six aircraft are missing.