SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE

NUMEROUS RAIDS ON ITALIAN BASES RECORD OF SUCCESSES (British Official Wireless) (Received February 9, 9.0 p.m.) RUGBY, February 8. Practical comment on “the wishful thinking” in which the Nazis indulged before the war, to the effect that the Empire would not support Britain, is afforded in a summary of the operations of the South African Air Force in the past six months. “There is not an important aerodrome in Italian Somaliland and Southern Abyssinia,” states the Air Ministry news service, “which does not .bear scars inflicted by the South African Air Force. Since it entered the war, squadrons of the South African Air Force have flown thousands of miles ovei featureless, desolate country, destroying hangars, administrative buildings, wireless stations, fuel dumps, and ammunition dumps, and wrecking and damaging enemy planes. Innumerable photographs confirm the damage inflicted. As many as 20 major bombing operations have taken place in one month. One of the most ambitious raids during August was when simultaneous offensive reconnaissances were made against all Italian aerodromes within striking distance of Kenya. Nine days later a most spectacular attack was carried out by waves of South African Air Force bombers, which dived on the main transport yard at Mogadiscio and set fire to more than 800 vehicles. A bomber squadron also carried out many night raids over

this difficult country. Ever since the first Italian bomber was shot down in Kenya, at Wajir, on August 3, fighters have been successful in intercepting most of the bombing raids which the Italians have ventured to make over the vast northern frontier district. On October 25 three SBl’s were engaged and shot down by three South African Ah’ Force fighters, and a month later three Capronis were intercepted. Two were shot down and the third was believed to be damaged.

Impressive as are the records of the fighters and bombers, the outstanding feature has been the work, in co-opera-tion with the army, of squadrons which daily make low, hazardous reconnaissances and photographic flights over enemy territory. The numerous duties of the “army co-operation” squadrons include bombing and fighting. In the attack on Elwak—the success of which was largely because air and land forces acted in perfect unison—it was an “army co-operation” squadron which shot down a Caproni before it had a chance “to lay its eggs.”