EXTENSIVE ATTACKS BY R.A.F.

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23248, 7 February 1941, Page 9

EXTENSIVE ATTACKS BY R.A.F.

LONDON, February 5. As the Italians retreat through the ' lhountaim; ' J * Cyrenaica they are being L by the ■ ratyal / The withdrawal is pade more difficult because of the dis- „ Eruption caused to the railway line just 1; , outside Barce, where three direct hits . were scored on the track near the sta--1 Won. "Repeated raids were carried out by bomber aircraft yesterday on Barce, ; Berka, and the lines of communica,tion to Benghazi,” states a communique issued by the headquarters of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East. “Between Maraua and Barce motor transport was heavily attacked, and much damage was caused. The Barce railway station was raided and three direct hits were registered bn the track. Hangars were hit at Berka and a large fire was started. • ‘‘Our fighters were also active. One Caproni CA 133 bomber and one Fiat CR 42 fighter were shot down, an enemy flying-boat anchored off Tolmeita was destroyed, and an enemy bomber was found to have crashed in Appolonia. . “A South African fighter squadron attacked the landing ground near Azozo, where five CA 133’s were set on ■re. Near Asmara aircraft of this •madron intercepted enemy fighters a shot one down. One Savoia 81 ber was machine-gunned on the , ,Bound and destroyed. At Teranm, • ’■ tottr Savoia 79’s were observed to have baan burnt out on the ground, while . on* CA 133 and two CR 42’s in an un-

serviceable condition, as a result of air attack, were captured at Barentu. “In addition, our bombers raided a number of military objectives in Eritrea Motor transports were set on fire on the Metemma-Gondar road and between Asmara and Keren a motor convoy was attacked. ' "The aerodrome at Gura was raided, and three direct hits were’registered on the hangars, causing much damage. Motor vehicles and buildings at Eamgar were bombed. “Aircraft and motor transport were attacked at Mekilie, and three Savoia 79’s were destroyed on,the ground and several others damaged. “Enemy fighters intercepted our bombers, but the raid was successfully completed without damage to our air“ln’ southern Abyssinia the South African Air Force continues to support the Army. One fighter pilot alone has shot down three CA 133’s. "Enemy aircraft raided Malta yesterday but were intercepted by our fighters. At least three Junkers'Bß’s were shot down and others severely damaged. Some slight damage was caused to buildings. “From all these operations all our aircraft returned safely except one bomber and one fighter.’’ A German communique says that bombers attacked Malta and caused fires and explosions. Air Training Course.—Ninety-one local units of the Air Training Course, which is open to youths from the age of 16 years, have already been registered at the Air Training Course headquarters. Eighty of these units are in England, six in Scotland, and five-in Wales.— Rugby, February 5.