ANOTHER FAILURE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21418, 12 May 1941, Page 11

ANOTHER FAILURE

NAZI AIR ATTACK NAVAL SQUADRON BOMBED (United -’reis Assn.—--Ki.i: Tel. cnDyri(rnt> LONDON. May 10 A'n Admiralty communique states that during operations in the Western Mediterranean German and Italian aircraft made repeated attacks on our naval forces, says the British official wireless. These attacks continued throughout the afternoon and evening of Thursday. No damage was suffered 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 yas lost, but the crew was saved. The enemy attacks were made by torpedo-bomber aircraft, by highlevel bombers escorted by fighters, and by dive-bombers escorted by fighters. In one case a formation of 25 dive-bombers escorted by Messerschmitt 110’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 torpedobombers and one 579 were destroyed by the anti-aircraft fire of the squadron and two torpedo-bombers were severoly damaged. Naval fighters shot down one Junkers 87 and two S79’s and severely damaged one Junkers 87, one Messerschmitt 110 and one CR42. In addition to these, damage was inflicted on other enemy aircraft.