NO RESPITE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 211, 6 September 1941, Page 7

NO RESPITE

DAMAGE TO ENEMY

Air Operations Over Africa

And Mediterranean

British Official WMeM. Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Sept. 5. The destruction of an enemv destroyer outside Tripoli harbour and widespread air operations in other parts of the Mediterranean are announced in the R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states: "A strong force of Italian fighters which approached Malta yesterday morning was intercepted by our fighters which shot down six Macchis 200 and badly damaged a number of others. Another raiding aircraft was damaged by gunfire.

"In the afternoon a further force of Macchis 200 were intercepted off the coast of Sicily and three were shot down and others damaged. Two of our aircraft were lost in this operation.

"During the night of Wednesdav aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm torpedoed and destroyed an enemv destroyer outside Tripoli harbour. In addition a large merchant ship was bombed and l it. Other aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm bombed and machine-gunned the Sicilian aerodromes of Gerbini and Catania, where two enemy aircraft were set on fire and others damaged.

"The bomber aircraft of the South African Air Force bombed enemy dumps north of Gambut during Wedmesday night and scored a number of hits. Yesterday fighter-aircraft machine-gunned a German camu near Capuzzo, setting fire to tents and destroying motor transport.

From these operations, with the exception of the two mentioned, all our aircraft returned safely."

Reports from Cairo state that General Sir Claude Auchinleck has returned after a six days' inspection of Palestine, Syria and Cyprus. He visited the Syrian battlefields.

The Cairo communique states that a heavy dust storm has limited our patrol activity in the Tobruk area There is nothing to report from the frontier area. Dogfights Over Malta Describing in greater detail the air attacks on Malta, the Air Ministry news service states that aircraft attacking this morning were encountered at more than 20.000 feet and engaged some miles north of Malta by R.A.F. fighters.

As the first formation went into attack, the squadron-leader went in to attack two Macchis. One went down immediately with smoke pouring from it. Soon several more were hurtling down into the sea. A night-lieutenant and a pilot-officer got one each and another pilotofficer. seeing three Macchis higher than the others in combat, climbed and had shot one down when another got on his tail. This enemy aircraft was attacked in turn by another R.A.P. fighter, and within a few seconds was sent plunging down to the waves five miles below. In the meantime one flight-lieutenant leading another R.A.F. fighter formation, engaged the enemy and fired a burst into a Macchi at 25 yards range. His shots entered the cockpit of the enemy aircraft, and, as there was no answering fire, it was apparent the enemy pilot had been killed. The Macchi went into a vertical dive toward the sea. followed by the flight-lieutenant. Although it was not seen to strike the sea, a dark puff of smoke like a pall on the waters indicated where it had gone beneath the surface.

In the afternoon, R.A.F. fighters again encountered enemy fighters approaching the island. The enemy immediately turned towards Sicily, and an engagement todk place off Cape Pussto. A combat at a low altitude is described by an R.A.F. flightleader as "a tough one."

An official communique from Cairo states that the Suez Canal area was raided last night and high explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped, causing five casualties to the civilian population, two being fatal, and some damage to property. Air alarms were general over Northern Egypt, including Cairo.