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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 0311.PDF
FEBRUARY 6TH, 1941. 107 War in The Air Capture of Derna : Advance on Four Fronts : Fog in North Europe SIR ARCHIBALDWAVELL is striking outvigorously on four ffronts, Libya, Eritrea, Abyssinia, and Somaliland, and everywhere is pressing the retreating Italians hard. In Libya—it is pleasing to recall how for many months the repdrts from that front spoke of " the Western Desert'' ; now they speak of '' Libya ''—British troops have stormed Derna after a three-days' fight. Australians again struck the final blow. The seaplane base at Bomba, which lies between Tobruk and Derna, was found to have been completely destroyed by the bombs of the R.A.F. When our men entered the place they found the graves of a few Italian pilots, the burnt-out wreckage of seven seaplanes, and the twisted girders of two workshops, and that was all. Two of the seaplanes, three-engined machines, were lying in shallow water, still attached to their moorings, and riddled with bullets. In some ways the British advance into Eritrea is the most interesting, as this is the oldest Italian colony in Africa and contains the important port of Massawa. A seaport on the Red Sea is not of much value to the Italians at present, though some of their submarines may use the place, but the loss of Eritrea would hit Italian pride very hard. The Indian division, which did gallant work on the Libyan front during the early operations round Sidi Barrani, has British Movietone News) ARK ROYAL AT SEA : The famous British aircraft carrier photographed in the Mediterranean from one of her aircraft. been diverted into Eritrea. As usual, the Indian divisionincludes some British regiments, and one of them is stated to be a famous Highland regiment. This division has beenfighting its way gallantly towards the important town of Agordat. A Rhodesian squadron has been giving supportto the ground troops, and, among other exploits, its air- craft dropped bombs near a bridge at Tellina, hit anotherwest of Keren, shot up motor transport at various places, and bombed a landing ground. The fighting has beentaking place in rocky hills, a style of warfare similar to that experienced by the Indians on the North-WestFrontier. Information from the air as to the enemy's positions is of the greatest moment in such operations, andthe eyes of the Rhodesian observers may well be of greater service than the bombs and bullets discharged from themachines. The South African Air Force units are operating fromKenya against Italian Somaliland, and in Abyssinia. From Albania the news of late hasbeen scanty, and actually all other news from Greece has been over-shadowed by the death of the able and patriotic Prime Minister, GeneralMetaxas He it was who defied the aggression of Fascist Italy, and it isunderstood to have been he who planned the campaign which has beencarried out in such masterly fashion by the Greek Army. At any rate, itwas he who reformed and trained the Army and put a stop to the idea thatan Army may be a political party. His loss is great, but the major part of hiswork has been done and he has died at the height of his glory. As theKing of the Hellenes said: "He has left our midst to enter that placewhere the glorious figures of Greek history are gathered together." Other figures, it is reported, have [British Movietone News) Governor of Algeciras visits H.M.S. ArkRoyal at Gibraltar. Spanish officers of the Governor's party being shown atorpedo-bomber on the flight deck.
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