NAVY BOMBARDS BENGHAZI

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21960, 12 May 1941, Page 5

NAVY BOMBARDS BENGHAZI

Hits On Enemy Shipping Aircraft Attack Beaten Off British Official Wireless (Rec. 8.18 p.m.) RUGBY, May 9. An Admiralty communique says: "During the early hours of Thursday morning our naval forces carried out an attack on the harbour of Benghazi. Hits were observed on enemy shipping alongside.. Two enemy supply ships were intercepted while approaching the harbour and destroyed. One was of 3000 tons and the other was an ammunition ship of between 5000 and 6000 tons. It was blown to bits,” An Admiralty communique states:— "During operations in the Western Mediterranean, German and Italian aircraft made repeated attacks on our naval forces. These attacks continued throughout the afternoon and evening of Thursday. No damage was sustained by any of our ships. As each attack developed it was Intercepted and broken up by naval fighters and subsequently driven off by them and the anti-aircraft guns of the squadron. One of our fighters Is missing. Another was lost but the crew was saved. Enemy attacks were made by torpedo bomber aircraft and by high level bombers escorted by fighters and by dive-bombers escorted by fighters. In one case a formation of 25 dive-bombers escorted by Messerschmitt I‘o’s was Intercepted brilliantly, broken up and driven off by naval fighters before the attack could materialise. The following losses were Inflicted upon the enemy: Three torpedo bombers and one 879 destroyed by anti-aircraft fire of the squadron and two torpedo bombers severely damaged. Naval fighters shot down one Junkers 87, two 79’s and severely damaged one Junkers 87, one Messerschmitt 110 and one CR42.

“In addition to these casualties damage Is known to have been inflicted on other enemy aircraft.”