AIR OFFENSIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 24 November 1941, Page 6

AIR OFFENSIVE

PERSISTENT RAIDS LOW-FLYING ATTACKS TANKS AND TRANSPORT (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.50 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 23. Operating further with the Imperial land forces, British aircraft maintained their considerable offensive over the Libyan battle area yesterday, states-a communique issued by Roya! Air Force headquarters in Cairo to-night. The communique continues: “Particularly successful bombing anc’ low-flying attacks were carried out on enemy tanks, armoured fighting trucks and motor transport moving along the El Adem-Acroma road. Over 100 lorries and a number of petrol tankers were destroyed, and tlie accumulated wreckage of vehicles blocked the road at many points. “Effective raids were made by our bombers on road communications in the Derna and Gazala areas, as well as on concentrations of motor transport at Bir-Hacheim. “In the Gambut zone, one C.R. 42 and one Heinkel 126 were destroyed on the ground and two Junkers 88’s were shot down by our fighters. In a further aerial combat a number of Messerschmitt 109’s were damaged. “In the central Mediterranean on Saturday night Royal Air Force and naval aircraft attacked an enemy' convoy which was escorted by one cruiser and five destroyers. One torpedo scored a direct hit on the cruiser, causing a large flash and clouds of black smoke. One large merchant vessel was probably hit and sticks of bombs straddled the other ships. “In a raid on Argostoli harbour on Saturday, our aircraft bombed a naval vessel, which was left with a heavy list. Patrol vessels and other craft in the harbour were machine-gunned. “A force of Macchi 202’s which approached Malta on Friday was engaged by our • fighters, which damaged a number of enemy fighter.-. Thirteen of our aircraft are missing.”