MASS DOGFIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24131, 25 November 1941, Page 7

MASS DOGFIGHTS

COMBATS OVER LIBYA BRITISH SUPREMACY OPPOSITION INCREASING (Reed. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 9A Mass dogfights, in which as many as 50 machines took part, between Tomahawks and Messerschmitts on Sunday, resulted in the destruction of nine Messerschmitts. Five Tomahawks out of 21 have not returned to their base, but they may have landed for refuelling at desert land-ing-grounds. The top scorer in Thursday's dogfights was an Australian sergeantpilot attached to a famous Royal Air Force desert squadron. He shot down two Junkers 88's and a Messerschmitt 109, states the Air Ministry. He was missing when his formation of Tomahawks returned to its landing-ground inside Libya, but he reported later and put forward his claim, which has since been confirmed. Two other sergeantpilots of this squadron, one from New South Wales and the other from England, also secured victims in the engagement.

Heavy Enemy Losses Cairo reports estimated that up to Saturday night 75 enemy aeroplanes had been destroyed, with a further 19 probably destroyed. Imperial air losses were given as 19, with some of the pilots safe, and the possibility of some machines being made serviceable again. Enemy air activity, which, during the first two days—possibly as a result of the heavy rain storms which occurred in the coastal regions whero their aircraft were bogged—was negligible, recently has been on a larger scale. British aircraft maintained their considerable offensive over the Libyan battle area on Saturday, states the R.A.F. Middle East communique issued at Cairo last night.

Many Vehicles Destroyed The communique continues: "Particularly successful bombing and lowflying 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 the 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 Caproni 42 and one Heinkel 126 were destroyed on the ground, and two Junkers 88's were shot down by our fighters. In further aerial combat a number of Messerschmitt 109's were damaged."

Axis Air Reinforcements More enemy aircraft were in action yesterday. The commander of the Royal Air Force in the Western Desert, Air Vice-Marshal A. Conyngham, has confirmed reports that the Germans and Italians are rushing reinforcements of aeroplanes to the scene. The Germans are flying fighters and bombers from Tripoli, Crete, Italy and Greece, while troop-carriers and trailer-gliders are arriving with reinforcements for the land forces. The Italians are also rushing up fighters and bombers. Air Vice-Marshal Conyngham paid a tribute to American aircraft fighting in the desert, especially the Tomahawk machines. "They have been worth their weight in gold. I wish I had more of them," he added. He said these machines were the reason for the absence of Stuka dive-bombers.

Reports that the Germans are running out of petrol were discounted by the commander. He said the Germans had enough for themselves, but they were not sharing it with their Italian allies, whose supplies were running short.

Royal Air Force circles in Cairo report that not a single Royal Air Force supply vehicle has so far been lost. The size of the supply problem confronting the Royal Air Force can be judged from the fact that a squadron making several sorties a day uses 3000 to 4000 gallons of petrol each day.

COAST BOMBARDED NAVAL SQUADRONS' SUPPORT LONDON, Nov. 23 The work of the British Navy in the Mediterranean during the great battle in Libya is described by a special correspondent on board the battleship Barham, off the coast of Cyrenaica, who writes: "Our cruiser squadrons nightly continue to fling 6in. salvoes into enemy coastal positions and supply dumps. With our submarines and light units taking care of the central Mediterranean, our powerful eastern Mediterranean fleet is playing the role of watchdog along the whole coast of Cyrenaica, thus ensuring that the Axis forces shall receive no supplies or reinforcements while General Cunningham's army thrusts across Libya.

"Ou Friday evening two Junkers 88's approached the fleet at dusk and circled round, apparently reporting its movements, but they kept at a distance when we opened fire, and were subsequently driven off by naval aircraft. The enemy appeared to be too much occupied ashore to give us much attention, and we have not seen any signs of the Italian Navy endeavouring to protect their Libyan sea flank, in spite of their numerical superiority."