WIDESPREAD RAIDS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 11

WIDESPREAD RAIDS

Royal Air Force In Africa

(BrlCiisß Ulliclal Wireless.i RUGBY, February 20. A Royal Air Force (Middle East) communique says: “In Eritrea and Abyssinia and in support of the Army offensive in Italian East Africa, the R.A.F. carried out yesterday a number of raids on important military objectives. Despite bad weather, attacks were made on a motor transport park and repair shops at Dessie and on transport moving along roads north and east of Dessie. Direct hits which were registered on workshops were followed by large columns of black smoke. A number of vehicles on the roads were left in flames after machine-gun attacks. “At Asmara bombs were dropped on buildings and hangars at an aerodrome. Fighter aircraft of the South African Air Force in this area made a successful attack on enemy aerodromes, destroying two Cr42’s, two Cal33’s, and three S79’.s, while three South African Air Force bombers heavily attacked barracks at lavello. “In Italian Somaliland other squadrons carried out an offensive reconnaissance in support of our troops in the Juba River area.

“In Libya enemy aircraft raided Benghazi yesterday shortly after dawn. One Heinkel TH was shot down by antiaircraft lire. A further attack was made in the afternoon by Junkers SS’s escorted by Messerschmitt 110’s. One Junkers was damaged by our lighters. While covering operations by our advanced forces, three Hurricanes engaged a formation of Messerschmitt 110’s. Two of our aircraft are missing, but one of them is safe. “It is now confirmed that tighter,s of the Royal Australian Air Force, in the engagement with German aircraft which was reported in a communique '.esterday. shot down two additional Junkers "S7’s, making three in all.”