ABOVE ALBANIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20487, 22 February 1941, Page 5

ABOVE ALBANIA

ROYAL AIR FORCE ASSISTANCE TO GREEKS RAIDING OF ITALIANS PLANES SHOT DOWN BOMBING OF BARRACKS (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. noon. RUGBY, Feb. 21. Highly successful actions fought by Royal Air Force squadrons over Albania yesterday were a feature of the Middle East communique issued from Royal Air Force Headquarters. This states: “The Royal Air Force was again very active in Albania yesterday. A particularly heavy raid was made on Berat where the barracks were badly damaged and a number of fires were started followed by explosions. “At Tepeleni enemy stores and troop concentrations were successfully attacked. Much damage and confusion were caused. British bombers were escorted by fighters on these raids and in engagements with enemy planes seven of their fighters were shot down without loss to the Royal Air Force. Other enemy aircraft were severely damaged.” Hurricanes Take Toll Additional details of the successful Royal Air Force actions over Albania arc given in a communique from British headquarters in Greece. The raid on Berat, it was stated, was carried out by a large force of bombers escorted by eight-gun Hurricanes. The

enemy fighters which met the formation were at once engaged by the Hurricanes. Four were quickly shot down and the remainder dispersed. Meanwhile the bombers- pressed home the attacks, causing great damage and confusion in the town. A night communique issued in Athens says: “We occupied strong enemy positions and took 200 prisoners, including officers, and captured much material. Five enemy planes were shot down in aerial fighting. One of ours made a forced landing in friendly territory. : The crew were saved.”