AIR WARFARE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1940, Page 5

AIR WARFARE

HUNDRED ITALIAN PLANES IN ACTION SIX SHOT DOWN BY R.A.F. OVER LIBYA. ENEMY WARSHIP BOMBED IN RED SEA PORT. In two engagements over Libya the R.A.F. fought over 3 hundred Italian planes and shot down six, Daventry reports. In a raid on an Italian Red Sea port a direct hit was secured on an Italian warship. i ITALIAN REPORT ; ( SUCCESS AT ALL POINTS. < CLAIMED. (Received This Day. 9.15 a.m.) ROME. August 5. A communique states: “An air battle occurred over the frontier between planes from Cyrenaica and Egypt. Ten enemy planes that were shot down comprised seven Gloucesters and three Blenheims. Also a number of units were destroyed. “In East Africa we repulsed an enemy infantry attack at Namaraput, near Lake Rudolf. “Italian planes also bombed Port Berbera, hitting an enemy ship. “The enemy air raided Massawa. Four persons are dead and thirty injured. Two enemy planes were brought down. “The enemy bombed Kassala. One plane was brought down.” R.A.F. ACTIVITIES PORTS AND OTHER AREAS BOMBED. SHIPS AND PLANES DAMAGED. (Received This Day. 10 a.m.) CAIRO, August 5. A R.A.F. communique states: “We bombed a fuel dump at Massawa, hittI ing a building. All our planes returned. .. “A direct hit was scored on a naval vessel in Massawa harbour during another raid, when bombs burst among submarines. “Our planes machine-gunned from 150 feet three grounded bombers in the Dagabur area. “Enemy bombers attacked Mersa Matruh but there were no R.A.F. casualties. “Three enemy bombers on Saturday attacked a shijj in Berbera harbour. Our fighters severely damaged one j raider, which possibly was shot down.’ J FURTHER ENEMY LOSSES ONE BRITISH PLANE MISSING. (Received This Day. 10.40 a.m.) CAIRO. August 5. A communique states: "In the Direlgobhi area our reconnaissance planes, escorted by four fighters, met filly fighters and shot down three enemy planes. “Our bombers attacked motor transport concentrations cast of Birelgobhi. after an attack by fifty fighters, two of which were shot down by our planes. The enemy’s own anti-aircraft fire shot down a third plane. One of our lighters is missing."