TARGETS FOR R.A.F.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 230, 29 September 1942, Page 3

TARGETS FOR R.A.F.

Bombing Raids And Patrols Over Libya TOBRUK AND BENGASI BLITZED U.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, September 28. The Cairo communique states:— "Our patrol activity continued on Saturday night. Yesterday there was nothing to report from our land forces. Air activity over the battle area was on a reduced scale, but enemy transport and amrhunition lorries were successfully attacked on the Gambut-Bardia road. An enemy raider was brought down near Amiriya on Saturday night, while last night a Heinkel was shot down in the Canal area. During these operations we lost one aircraft."

Tobruk and Bengasi were blitzed again last night by heavy and medium bombers of the Royal Air Force. At Tobruk petrol installations and other shore targets were hit and at Bengasi direct hits were scored on the outer mole.

Aircraft of the South African force raided Gazala and other enemy targets. Attacks against enemy shipping will, perhaps, represent a decisive aspect in this phase of the Egyptian campaign, says the Daily Telegraph Cairo representative. Since June 1 we have sunk 40 cargo vessels, representing 60,000 tons, and damaged a further 80,000 tons, and sunk six escorts and damaged at least 12. Royal Air Force bombers have strafed the port facilities at Tobruk and shipping in the harbour again. After a week of nightly strafing, enemy landing grounds in the Western Desert were again raided by light bombers, this time of the South African Air Force. Describing the effectiveness of the Allies' non-stop bombing in disloeating the enemy's plans in bringing up vital supplies to the Egyptian front, a message from Cairo says that because of the attacks on Tobruk the enemy has recently been forced to divert some of his shipping to Bengasi, 250 miles further west. This move back to Bengasi, however, is only a little safer. Longrange Liberators have been particularly successful in their raids on this port. To protect Axis shipping while at sea the Germans have been forced to divert a large part of their fighter strength from the battle area.