BEST WEEK YET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 42, 18 August 1941, Page 8

BEST WEEK YET

AIRMEN IN MIDDLE EAST

TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION

WIDE RANGE

(Hec. 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 17

With the destruction in the Mediterranean during the last 48 hours of 17,000 tons of enemy shipping, to which must be added a 2000-ton merchantman which was sung at Catania and another vessel of 1300 tons which was sunk at Syracuse during the last few days, the R.A.F. and the Fleet Air Arm completed their most successful week in the Middle East, states the Air Ministry.

To these confirmed shipping losses, and a collier which was bombed at. Lampedusa, must be added a destroyer and two schooners, each of 800 tons, which were probably destroyed.

Ranging in raids from Gondar (in Abyssinia) to Tripoli, Sicily, and Greece, pur aircraft carried out a blitz which, though overshadowed by the intensity of the air war over Germany and the occupied countries, nevertheless proved extremely successful. It started on the night of August 8-9, when a large formation of heavy R.A.F. bombers carried out a concentrated and damaging attack on the Corinth Canal. It was subsequently revealed after a second raid a few nights later that considerable landslides had been caused and, that the canal had been damaged to such an extent that it would be unnavigable for a long period.

Continuous day and night attacks have been made elsewhere by the R.A.F., the Fleet Air Arm, and the South African Air Force, often flying Mary lands and Tomahawks. During the week British planes also attacked shipping and aerodromes'in Sicily and southern Italy.

An R.A.F. (Middle East) communique reports: "A heavy raid was made on Catania on the night of August 15-16. Many heavy bombs were dropped on the central mole, the railway station, the Customs building, and warehouses, causing one large fire and many smaller ones. Later an explosion occurred, with flames rising to 800 feet, being visible 70 miles away.

"Fighter sweeps were carried but over southern Italy yesterday, but no combats resulted.. During the nigftt of August 15-16 bombers raided the aerodromes at Berka and Benina and the ports of\Bardia and Benghazi in Libya. At Benina direct hits were scored on hangars and administrative buildings. Control offices were set on fire and a number of explosions were caused. At Berka dispersed aircraft were attacked.

"Enemy gun positions east of the British defences at Tobruk were heavily bombarded by a combined force of fighters.

"Our fighters intercepted and damaged an . Italian bomber over Gambut.

"Malta was raided four times on the night of August 15-16, but only very minor damage was done.

"From all these operations one of our aircraft is missing."—B.O.W.