Big Enemy Air Attacks On Malta Routed

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13771, 14 October 1942, Page 3

Big Enemy Air Attacks On Malta Routed

erA te attempt by axis to smash Dtb ISLAND’S DEFENCES

GARRISON hitting back with deadly effect

TffENTY-FOUR ATR CRAFT SHOT DOWN IN ONE DAY

London, Oct. 13. - ( , t go Axis planes have been destroyed over Malta in the -Tvs and the total for the last three days is 39. ( were shot down by tjie island’s Spitfires and anti-aircraft The attacks on the island commenced on Saturday last numbers of enemy fighters were sent over. Ti- * came in and swept the defences every two hours and , ifaefo were followed by the enemy’s bombers. 'wterday was a disastrous one for the attackers when Malta’s !!• took a record toll of 24 machines shot down for certain. iVtion to 'this 50 more enemy planes were damaged and it is lD a * ( nJikely that many of them woulld reach their base., afternoon saw the enemy’s greatest rout when 20 , bers escor ted by a huge screen of fighters attacked the island. O r Spitfires came at them from out of the sun and massacred , 1 -\Vhen 10 of the bombers and five of the escorting fighters Jbeen sent crashing down the rest turned tail and fled after ** Th ilit ar y damage caused by these most recent attacks on Ma is officially stated to be small but- there have been many' ; ivi l ian casualties in the villages owing to wild and inaccurate bombi’i" by the much harassed attacking planes. u g o me civilians yesterday were caught by bombs as they were on their way to the shelters in one of the coastal villages.