MALTA’S STING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24915, 14 May 1942, Page 5

MALTA’S STING

FELT BY RAIDERS TOLL RAPIDLY MOUNTING LONDON, May 13. Malta, which is described as the best defended locality in the world, has destroyed or damaged 112 enemy planes in the last three days. Of these. 37 are known to have been destroyed' 31 were probably destroyed, and the rest damaged. An official Malta comYnunique sent these figures as the guns were roaring and aircraft were making ready to beat off the latest raid. The Governor of Malta, Viscount Gort, has extended congratulations to all the fighting forces on their magnificent team work at the week-end. Particularly, he congratulated the Royal Air Force and the anti-aircraft defences, stating that the Luftwaffe has seen that Malta can hit back. A Malta message says; “This evening, when a few bombers with a very heavy escort of fighters, attacked an aerodrome, British fighters destroyed two fighters and damaged two bombers and three fighters, two of the latter having little chance of reaching their base. The total R.A.F. score for the day was four fighters and a bomber and three fighters probably destroyed. Two bombers and four fighters were damaged. A heavy anti-aircraft barrage damaged a bomber, while light and heavy anti-aircraft fire kept at bay enemy fighters which were trying to prevent British fighters from landing.

It is now known that another enemy fighter was probably destroyed yesterday. Last night there were no raids. On Tuesday morning R.A.F. fighters intercepted and destroyed an enemy fighter, and of three bombers which took part in the raid all were damaged and one was probably destroyed. In addition, two fighters were damaged. No damage was reported, and only one person was seriously injured by antiaircraft shell splinters. The afternoon activity was limited to enemy 'fighter sorties, which patrolled beyond range of the guns.” ENEMY'S!TOTAL LOSSES OVER FIVE HUNDRED PLANES (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 13. Malta had only two attacks to-day, but in these 14 more enemy planes were either destroyed or crippled. These are in, addition to the 112 destroyed in the three previous days. In ’the 72 hours ended at midnight on Monday raiders were destroyed at the rate of three every two hours. Malta has now had 2200 air raids. It is officially stated that since the outbreak of war 507 enemy aircraft have been destroyed over Malta.