AIR OFFENSIVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25174, 15 March 1943, Page 3

AIR OFFENSIVE

DAMAGING ALLIED RAIDS (Rec. 10 p.m.) RUGBY, Mar. 13.. The Allied Force headquarters in North Africa states that normal patrol activity continued on all fronts in Tunisia yesterday. There was very little activity on the Eighth Army front, where all our patrol lines remain unchanged. - Allied bombers yesterday heavily attacked the dock and railway yards at Susa, scoring many hits on both targets and leaving large fires. Objectives at Sneidville were bombed by a formation of medium bombers, and other medium bombers attacked a convoy of motor barges making for Tunis, and sank at least three. Six enemy aircraft were destroyed during these operations. Last night Allied bombers started a large fire during an attack on the docks at Tunis. On the northern front fighter-bombers attacked enemy positions and roads. In the Sed Jenane area, fighters destroyed a number of enemy vehicles. In the Western Desert Air Force bombers attacked enemy positions. In an attack by enemy fighterbombers on one of our airfields, one enemy was shot down by our fighters and four more by the anti-aircraft and the small arms fire of ground troops. One enemy bomber was destroyed the previous night. From ail of these operations three Allied aircraft are missing.

The R.A.F. Middle East communique states that shipping and harbour installations at Palermo were attacked by heavy and medium bombers on Thursday night and fires were started. Other targets in Sicily were also attacked. One enemy bomber was destroyed off Tripoli. From these and other operations all our aircraft returned. Earlier reports stated: Medium bombers, with fighter escort, attacked an enemy convoy of motor barges with escort vessels off the coast of Sicily. Several barges were hit by bombs, and one blew up. Three of the enemy aircraft escorting the convoy were shot down. On the northern and central sectors sweeps and patrols were flown by our fighters' yesterday, but the weather prevented further offensive operations. In the south, objectives in the enemy’s Mareth positions were bombed. On March 10 fighters and fighter-bombers of the Western Desert Air Force made attacks on enemy vehicles in the Ksar Rhilane area, destroying a number. Two raids by enemy dive-bombers were intercepted and driven off by our fighters, which destroyed one Ju. 87 and three fighters, Seven of our planes are missing. Further reports of the attacks on enemy airfields near Tunisia on March 10 show that five more enemy fighters were destroyed, making a total of 13.

During a half-hour’s attack in Southern Tunisia low-flying R.A.F. fighters considerably damaged a strong German armoured unit which was stationary, probably refuelling before attacking a Fighting French unit. The result was five tanks destroyed, two left in flames 17 armoured cars badly hit, five left in flames, 10 lorries badly damaged, and three troop-carrying vehicles totally destroyed. When the German relief party arrived Kitty bombers followed to complete the fighters’ work.