SIEGE OF MALTA

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1942, Page 5

SIEGE OF MALTA

100 ENEMY PLANES LOST THIS MONTH. (Rec. 11.25.) RUGBY, May 20 By shooting down a German Ashler plane bv the R.A.F. late on Monday afternoon, Malta’s defences had brought the total of enemy aircrait destroyed over Malta during the first eighteen days of May to one hundred. Up to 10.45 a.m., local time, on Monday one Italian bomber, three lighters.’and six German fighters had been destroyel and five enemy fighters damaged. On Tuesday afternoon a smail formation of Italian bombers, flying at great height, attacked the aerodrome. They were engaged by A.A. fire as they crossed the coast. Later, they were attacked by R.A.F. fighters. who destroyed one bomber. The R.A.F. suffered no loss.

Italian E-boats

RUGBY, May 19. Italian E-boats, along with bomber and fighter planes have joined with the Germans in the recent attacks on Malta, according to an agency message which also states that the operations of E-boats, evidently under German pressure, continued to be the topic of cheerful conversation. Distant flashing was seen and this gave the R.A.F. gunners their chance. Up to Monday evening, five German and three Italian fighters had been destroyed, and four damaged. Numbers of enemy aircraft have since been seen patrolling the coast searching for lost crews. The British lost two aircraft. The pilot of one is safe. Anti-aircraft assisted the fighters to ward off attacks. There was no damage to civilian property. The R.A.F. in a Middle East communique stated:— On Monday morning fighters were active over Malta, and in the course of combats which developed over the island, our aircraft shot down five fighters and three bombers. On Sunday night one Italian bomber was destroyed by our night fighters. Four of ours are missing. The crew of one of our bombers, lost on Saturday night, have now reached safety.

Libyan Front RUGBY, May 19. A Middle East communique states: “Our patrols continue to be active on the whole front. On the central sector, enemy working parties were dispersed by one of our columns. Otherwise, there is nothing to report. Enemy camps and motor transport in Cyrenaica were effectively attacked by our fighter aircraft yesterday. Benghazi harbour, and traffic on the Benghazi-Chemines rpad were again the principal objective for our bomber aircraft on Sunday night.