AIRMEN’S PART

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 24 November 1941, Page 5

AIRMEN’S PART

PERSISTENT RAIDS BASES AND TROOPS AXIS PLANES DOWNED SHIFTING OF 'DROMES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Recr. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 23.

The great part which the Empire forces are playing in the Libyan battle is described in to-night’s Royal Air Force communique from the Middle East. It says:— ‘‘intensive operations by our fighter and bomber aircraft were carried out in the Libyan battle area on Friday. Heavy bombing raids in which Flying Fortresses aircraft took a prominent part were made on landing ground and dispersal points at Gazala, while throughout the day close support was given to our land forces. “At Bir Hacheim concentrations of enemy tanks and motor transport were effectively attacked. Bardia, Menastir and objectives in the Fort Capuzzo area were also bombed. One of our bombers shot down an enemy fighter in flames. “In the course of extensive fighter sweeps enemy aircraft were engaged whenever they were met. Two CR42s and one G 50 were shot down. “In an attack on enemy aircraft on the ground at Slonta three junkers 87s and one Junkers 88 and also one unidentified aircraft were destroyed. One Messerscbmitt 110 was shot down by fire from the ground

Aircraft Destroyed

“It is now established that 37 enemy aircraft were destroyed on Thursday, not 24 as given in an earlier communique. From all operations five of our aircraft are missing.” “The following are some of the successes which a Bristol Beaufighters squadron gained in the last five days in the Western Desert. Without loss to themselves they shot down eight enemy aircraft and destroyed a further 28 on the ground. In an encounter with five JU 52s troopcarriers, near Barce on November 18 all five aircraft were shot down. “Apart from these successes against enemy aircraft tne squadron in the same five days has destroyed or damaged 20 lorries, five other vehicles, and four petrol tankers and killed a number, of enemy personnel.”

The Bristol Beaufighter is a longrange day and night fighter. It is a midwing monoplane with a speed of more than 330 miles an hour. Its powerful armament consists of four cannon and six machine-guns. It carries a crew of two —a pilot and a navigator-observer. Speed and Transfer A despatch received in London from a Royal Air Force officer on service in the Western Desert gives some idea of the speed and manner in which the Imperial air forces are pushing forward their bases in co-operation with the advancing land forces. The officer writes: “We arrived at an airfield inside Libya at sunset on Wednesday after driving continuously for 10 hours over rough, stony ground. Early in the morning Royal Air Force armoured cars reached the site —just a reference on the map given them by the aerodrome location officer, who had chosen it after a dangerous reconnaissance.

“As a precaution armoured cars went first and a short while later were followed by anti-aircraft batteries and Lewis guns. “The search for these advanced aerodromes inside enemy territory has been a hazardous job for a number of officers for many weeks. I went on one of these trips a few days before the offensive opened. “Compass bearings took us into a forward area along the frontier. Our car was making runs backwards and forwards across a “skating rink,” a surface of clay pans which dot the desert. If the measurements are suitable they make ideal landing grounds. Systematically we covered a large area, checking the length with the car’s speedometer. “As twilight faded, our night fighters circled overhead, landing one by one. It was the squadron scheduled to operate next day. These pilots had been operating continuously since dawn, changing their base three times in four days. “At half-past five on Thursday morning the engines of eight Tomahawks were being warmed up and in half an hour the squadron was in the air. In a few minutes they had disappeared on their first job. , “By 9 o’clock enemy ground units had been heavily raided three times ; by mixed formations of Americanbuilt Glenn Martins and by South Africans and Blenheims of the Royal Air Force. The attack was repeated at midday and again at dusk. Wadis and encampments between Acroma and El Adem were pounded repeatedly, dispersed vehicles being riddled by bombs and shrapnel and many being set on fire.”