WIDESPREAD RAIDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 17 February 1942, Page 5

WIDESPREAD RAIDS

ACTIVITIES OF MIDDLE EAST COMMAND (Rec. 10.40 a.m.) Rugby, Feb. 16. An R.A.F. Middle East Command, communique states: Fighters maintain-' ed activities over forward areas in Cy- 1 renaica throughout Sunday. Bombers operating in close support of our ground forces bombed an enemy col- 1 umn in the Gadd El Ahmar zone, scor- j ing a number of direct hits. On Friday a Junkers 88 and a Macchi fighter were, shot down in the Bir Hacheim region by anti-aircraft fire. During Saturday night bombers again attacked harbour installations: al Benghazi and aerodromes at Berka. j Heavy cloud obscured the results of the I raids at Benghazi but fires were seen to break out at Berka. The same night objectives in Sicily were bombed and explosions and fires caused in the harbour areas at both Augusta and Syracuse. Aerodromes at Catania, Comiso and Gherbini were also raided, the attack on Gherbini being particularly effective. Our aircraft engaged a number of S7l torpedo bombers which attempted to attack shipping in the central Mediterranean on Sunday. Two enemy aircraft were shot down. During enemy raids on Malta on the same day our fighters shot down two Messerschmitt 109. Anti - aircraft batteries accounted for two Junkers 88 Some damage was caused in the course of these attacks. Five of our aircraft 1 are missing.—8.0. W.