WIDESPREAD RAIDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21992, 18 June 1941, Page 6

WIDESPREAD RAIDS

Success Of Middle East Offensive RUGBY, June 16. A Royal Air Force communique from the Middle East states:—“Yesterday fighters of the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force engaged in several combats with enemy aircraft. Three Messerschmitt 109’s and one CR42 were shot down during the day. South African fighters attacked a formation of Junkers 88’s strongly escorted by fighters and forced them to jettison their bombs before they could carry out their attack. Our aircraft also machine-gunned enemy columns, transport and armoured vehicles near El Gazala, Fort Capuzzo, and Bardia, and disabled a number of vehicles. “During the night of June 14-15 a successful raid was carried out on the harbour at Benghazi. A particularly violent explosion near the Cathedral mole was followed by a fire of such thagniiude that it was visible from a distance of 90 miles. Bombing attacks were also made during the night on an enemy camp at Bardia and on the landing ground at Derna, where a large fire was started. “It is now confirmed that nine unidentified enemy aircraft Were destroyed on the ground at El Gazala in addition to the two reported in yesterday's communique, and that two further Messerschmitt 110’s were shot down in addition to that reported destroyed at Safari. Aleppo Raided “Royal Air Force bombers carried out raids on the aerodrome at Aleppo and dropped bombs among dispersed aircraft on the runways, starting a number of fires. Hostile fighters which attempted to intercept were attacked and damaged. Fighters operating over our troops in the Kiswe area drove off a formation of Vichy Dewoitine fighters and destroyed two of them. Fighter aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force, which were machinegunnitig armoured vehicles in the same area, shot down two hostile bombers. "Protective patrols were carried out by Royal Air Force fighters over our naval units off the Syrian coast. Two formations of hostile aircraft vzere intercepted and a number were severely damaged. “From all these operations six of our aircraft are missing."