ENEMY AIRFIELD BOMBED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23589, 17 March 1942, Page 5

ENEMY AIRFIELD BOMBED

BUILDINGS LEFT IN FLAMES DAYLIGHT RAID IN • LIBYA (B 0.W.) RUGBY, March 15. Although patrol activity in Libya has been slightly greater in the last few days it is stated m authoritative circles that no special meaning, such as preparation for an offensive by General von Rommel, can be attached to it A Royal Air Force communique stales that Allied fighters and bombers were active over Cyrenaica yesterday, An enemy landing ground at Martuba was attacked and two Messerschmitt 109 s and a Macchi 202 were shot down. Other enemy aircraft were severely damaged. Objectives at Mokih, Benghazi, and Tripoli were raided during Friday night. . , Yesterday, cnomv aircraft continued to raid Malta. One ME 109 was shot down by fighters and one by anti-air-craft fire. Three British aircraft are missing. . Daylight bomber operations by the Royal Air Force in the Western Desert were renewed on Saturday, when American-built Boston aircraft attacked an enemy landing ground at Martuba, says the Air Ministry News Service. Many hits with high explosive bombs wore scored on the aerodrome and on two buildings which wore left in flames. Escorting Kittyhawk fighters kept at bay a number of enemy aircraft which attempted to intercept the bombers and destroyed three of them and shot up others severely. The operation was largely an Empire effort, South African crews manned the bombers and of the three fighter squadrons which assisted them two were Australians, while a third Royal Air Force squadron was commanded by a famous Australian squadron leader with the D.F.C. and bar. This pilot is one of the top scorers among nil the Allied pilots in the Middle East and he added another Macchi 202 to his bag during the engagement. He also shared a Messerschmitt 109 with a sergeant pilot of his squadron. The squadron leader now has 10J enemy aircraft to his credit. This squadron, with one of the Australian units taking part, shared the victory in the Western Desert last month, when 20 German and Italian aircraft were destroyed without loss to themselves, A week ago they were again in action together and destroyed nine enemy r'rcraft without loss Raids on Malta Reports from Malta state that last night was again comparatively quiet. A few bombers appeared shortly after dark, but several did net cross the coast. A few bombs were dropped, but there was no report of any damage. Anti-aircraft guns and fighters co-operated in attacking the enemy.' A later report showed that a Messerschmitt 100, which was claimed to have been damaged by British fighters yesterday. Was actually destroyed. To-day the Germans made a series of determined attacks on the aerodrome and harbour works, causing civilian damage and some casualties. Anli-aircraft guns wore active through, out the day. repelling the enemy while Royal Air Force fighters engaged both bombers and fighters in a number, of cases. Royal Air Force fighters severely damaged one Junkers 83 bomber and damaged two Messerschmitt 109 fighters and one Junkers 88 was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire. The first alert of the day sounded after dawn for a small force of patrolling Messerschmitts followed by a single bember attack. A bomber raid developed an hour later and was the preliminary to attacks at regular intervals throughout the night and day. A German airman broadcasting from BeiTin paid tribute to the “unparalleled defences the British have built up in Malta.” He said: “We met everywhere throughout the island an array of anti-aircraft guns and at any moment we had to be ready to engage fighters, the efficiency of which left traces on our machines. The German pilots do not have an easy lime.”