NEW RECORD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1943, Page 4

NEW RECORD

IN DESTRUCTION OF AXIS PLANES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. SET BY AMERICAN-BORN AIRMAN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 11. The Vichy radio quoted Berlin military circles as saying that the Allied forces are closing in on Kairouan. The First Army, striking east of Sed Jenane, has now taken Chaouach and a commanding range of hills running north-west of Chaouach, which stands north-west of Medjez el Bab, in important hill country. The British now dominate the Beja-Medjez el Bab and Medjez el Bab-Tunis roads at this point. The Algiers radio stated that Allied fighters yesterday shot down 40 Junkers 52 transport planes. Squadron Leader Lance Wade, D.F.C. and Bar, the American-born commander of an R.A.F. fighter squadron in the Western Desert Air Force, set a new record for the Middle East when he shot down his twentieth plane. The record previously was held by an Australian, Squadron Leader C. R. Caldwell, with a bag of 191 planes in the Middle East. Squadron Leader Caldwell is not now in the Middle East. AFRIKA KORPS INDICATION OF EVACUATION ATTEMPT. REPORTED BY OSLO RADIO. (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 11. The Oslo radio said a concentration of transports observed in Southern Italy indicated that the Axis will attempt to evacuate the Afrika Korps.