AIR WARFARE

Evening Star, Issue 23861, 16 April 1941, Page 7

AIR WARFARE

MIDDLE EAST AND BALKANS LARGE NUMBER OF ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 15. (Received April 16, at 11.50 a.m.) That 22 hostile aircraft fell victims to the R.A.F. arid anti-aircraft gunners when the Axis attempted to raid Tobruk was revealed in a Middle East communique issued by the R.A.F., which states: In Cyrenaica continuous bombing and machine-gun attacks were made throughout yesterday and the pr ious night on enemy aerodromes, concentrations of troops, and motor transport. Heavy damage was done and many casualties inflicted as the result of these raids, particularly in the Tobruk area. At El Adem, Derna, and Garabut military buildings were destroyed. Heavy explosions occurred, and'direct hits were registered on dispersed aircraft. Although full details wore difficult to observe, much damage was caused. Constant fighter patrols were maintained, and when several formations of enemy aircraft attempted to raid Tobruk eight Junkers 87’s were shot down by one squadron and four more by antiaircraft fire in the same area. Another squadron shot down one Heinkel 126, two Gso’s, and seven Junkers 87’s. At Menasir fighter aircraft of the R.A.F. shot down two 110’s and destroyed one Junkers 52 on the ground. Many enemy motor transport vehicles were destroyed or damaged in this area. Three" of our fighters and one bomber are missing. Tripoli was heavily raided last night, and bombs straddled shipping in the harbour. One vessel was seen burning fiercely, while others must have suffered damage. , , SOFIA BOMBED. In the Balkans on Sunday night Sofia was attacked. The main goods station, marshalling yards, and warehouses werethe principal objectives. Many fires were started in the goodsyard, where two rows of trucks received direct hits and blew up with such a detonation that it was evident.that they musthave contained explosives. When our aircraft left the target fires were burning steadily in the north and south sides of the goodsyard. Enemy convoys in the region of Yanitza and Gorna Djumaya were successfully attacked by our bombers, much damage being caused to enemy personnel and material. While on patrol our fighters shot down two Junkers 87’s in the Volos area and one Messerschmitt 109 and one Junkers 87 near Ptolemais. IIS! ABYSSINIA. In Abyssinia fighters of the, S.A.A.F. machine-gunned aerodromes at Jimma and Kobolcha. One RQ. 37 and one Caproni were burned out at Jimma. MALTA RAIDED. Enemy aircraft raided Malta on Sunday night. Some damage was caused to service and civilian property, but the casualties were few. Our losses in all operations were the four aircraft already mentioned in Cyrenaica. CHANNEL AIR BATTLES THREE ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 15. (Received April 16, at noon.) Two enemy fighters wore destroyed by British fighters during offensive patrols over the Channel 'and northern France to-day. One of our fighters is missing. ■ An enemy bomber was destroyed by British fighters over the Channel this afternoon. DIRECT HIT OH HOME FAMILY OF SIX WIPED OUT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 15. (Received April 16, at noon.) A family of six, consisting of a man, his wife, son, and the latter’s wife and two children, were killed when a house was directly hit in a south coast town last night. ENEMY PLANE DESTROYED SHOT DOWN BY FREE FRENCH VESSEL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 14. Free French naval headquarters announced that on the. morning of Saturday submarine chaser No. 41, belonging to their forces, was attacked by an enemy plane whilst on patrol duty at sea. “ Our chaser immediately fired with all its weapons, and our gunners say that a Junkers 88 was hit. This was confirmed a little later, when the plane nose-dived into the sea. Our chaser suffered no damage.” VICTIMS OF NAZI SAVAGERY MASS FUNERALS AT COVENTRY LONDON, April 15. (Received April 16, at 11 a.m.) Three thousand people attended the first of two mass funerals of the latest Coventry air raid victims. Union Jacks covered' the plain elm coffins.. One thousand wreaths were. deposited near the grave, and buglers sounded the ‘ Last Posti’ ELEVEN KILLED PLANE CRASH IN FRANCE LONDON, Aprl 15/ (Received April 16, at 11 a.m.) The German News Agency, quoting French newspapers, said that nine were killed and five houses were destroyed by fire when a British plane fell at St. Sever, near Biarritz. The two occupants of the plane were killed.