R.A.F. BOMBS DERNA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23482, 10 November 1941, Page 5

R.A.F. BOMBS DERNA

NAPLES ATTACKED AGAIN

WIDESPREAD RAIDS IN MIDDLE ISAST

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, November 8. A communique issued by the Royal Air Force in the Middle East states: “Objectives in Cyrenaica and Tripolitania were attacked by Royal Air Force bombers during Thursday night. In and near Derna motor transport and workshops were bombed, fires breaking out among buildings and dispersed vehicles. Tanks and another concentration of motor transport were also attacked. “An enemy aerodrome at Martuba was also visited and a number of Junkers 88’s on the ground were damaged by machine-gun fire from a low altitude. “At Tripoli mechanised vehicles were set on fire. “Direct hits on the Juliana mme and searchlight positions, were obtained at Benghazi during Wednesday night, while on Thursday buildings and sheds near the Mallsha aerodrome were bombed. A petrol dump was set on fir£ and enemy positions were machinegunned. . . “One Maryland bomber aircraft of the South African Air Force renewed the attack on the harbour and other objectives at Derna with good results. Enemy fighters were encountered and one Messerschmitt 109 was shot down. “During Friday night our bombers were again active over Cyrenaica, bombs being dropped at Bardia and Martuba. Bad weather prevented observation of the results of the attack. “Naples was also raided during Thursday night. Bombs burst on the railway station and harbour moles. An aerodrome at Capo di Chino was ma-chine-gunned in the course of the attack. “In Sicily,, a submarine base was raided and fires were started among military buildings. “Two of our aircraft are missing.” With Royal Air Force assistance, Italians in Tripolitania celebrated Guy Fawkes night last Wednesday with many tons of explosive fireworks. The Air Ministry News Service states that the aerodrome at Castel Benito was again a target for British bombers, and

both there and at the Merlasa aero* drome bombs were dropped over S period of five and a half hours. Red, white, and blue fires broke out in all parts of the targets—on the hangars, aerodromes, buildings, and in the ammunition dumps. Enemy aircraft on the ground were seen to explode as bombs burst among them. A squadron leader said the effects of the bombing were tremendous. Buildings just vanished when heavy bombs exploded among them. Enemy fighters tried ineffectively to. hamper the work of our bombers. Ona of our aircraft was attacked on four separate occasions by fighters. Another drove off enemy, fighters which it hit twice, and a third hit a CR42 which flew past without making an attack. In the attack on objectives in Tripolitania on Thursday night the aircraft flew through cloud and rain* storms to the target, and came in ovep the roofs of barracks and buildings. They dropped their bombs and pit three barrack building blocks, setting one on fire. Motor transport was also hit. Simultaneously, the gunners opened up on files of troops. A number of soldiers were hurled to the groundi while others dashed for cover.

AMERICAN BASE IN ICELAND

(Received November 9, 10.15 p.m.) (U.P.A.) WASHINGTON. Nov, 8. The Secretary for the Navy (Colonel Frank Knox) announced the establish* ment of an .Iceland naval operating base, with Admiral James Kauffman as commandant. He said that while the designation Iceland naval operating base was chiefly an organisational one. it was a step taken to enable extensive and varied activities, both ashore and afloat.

Duchess of Windsor 111,—-The Nassau correspondent of the Associated Presi of America says the Duke of Windsor has revealed that the Duchess of Wind* sor is suffering from a stomach ail* ment and will probably return to Baltimore shortly to see whether an operation is necessary.—New York, November 8.