AIR OFFENSIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1941, Page 7

AIR OFFENSIVE

SUCCESS IN AFRICA

ENEMY LINES BOMBED

PLANES DESTROYED

(British Official Wireless.) (Received February 5, noon.) RUGBY, February 4. An R.A.F. Middle East communique says: R.A.F. bomber and fighter aircraft continued to attack the enemy lines of communication on all fronts.

In Libya our bombers raided Berka aerodrome at Benghazi last night when they dropped bombs on aircraft dispersed on the ground and started large fires in several buildings. At Barce the railway station was heavily attacked and motor transport destroyed on the roads. Our fighter aircraft throughout yesterday harassed the enemy by machine-gun attacks.

Between Slonta and Tecnis, ten miles east of Barce, six separate attacks were made on troops withdrawing along the road. There were several casualties. Between 20 and 30 motor vehicles were also destroyed. WORK OF SOUTH AFRICANS. During the last two days the South African Air Force, without loss, has accounted for six enemy aircraft in Abyssinia. On February 2 fighter aircraft destroyed a Caproni bomber/on the ground at Afmadu, 60 miles northwest of Kismayu. The Italians replied with machine-gun fire. Yesterday a South African bomber attacked the Gobwen aerodrome, six miles northeast of Kismayu, dropping many incendiary bombs and then machinegunning the aerodrome. As a result three S79's, one Caproni, and one CR42 were destroyed.

In support of the Army's successful advance in Eritrea our aircraft continued to attack the enemy. During these operations one CAI33 was destroyed. The aerodrome at Gura suffered heavily as a result of a raid in which a number of direct hits were registered on buildings and nearby roads. From all these operations one of our aircraft failed to return.