SUCCESSIVE RAIDS ON BENGHAZI

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 25 October 1941, Page 6

SUCCESSIVE RAIDS ON BENGHAZI

HEAVY R.A.F. BOMBERS ENEMY DUMPS SET ON FIRE (Rec.. 10.48 a.m.) Rugby, Oct., 24. Docks and shipping at Benghazi were raided by R.A.F. heavy bombers during successive nights of 21st-22nd October and 22nd-23rd October. Bombs fell on the central and cathedral moles and fires broke out. A landing ground at Gasrel Arid in the frontier zone was raided by medium bombers on Wednesday and a again on Wednesday night. In a daylight attack large fires were caused among store dumps. During this raid there were several combats between our fighters and the ci.emy and one Alesserschmitt 109 was destroyed. In the course of the night raid fires which were visible for many miles from the target broke out. Naval aircraft dropped high explosive and incendiary bombs among motor transport near Fort Capuzzo. A number of vehicles was destroyed and many others damaged. Yesterday our lighter aircraft encountered a number of Messerschmitt 109's and shot down three. A fourth was damaged. Bomber aircraft of the South African Air Force raided Derna aerodrome where bombs were seen to burst among dispersed enemy aircraft. Chemical works ~t Cotronc in southern Italy were also attacked. In (Abyssinia positions south of Gondar were bombed on Wednesday. From these and other operations four of our aircraft are missing but two pilots are safe.—B.O.W.