AIR ACTIVITY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 185, 20 May 1941, Page 5

AIR ACTIVITY

IN LIBYA AND SYRIA.

THREE JUNKERS SHOT DOWN,

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE CAUSED

(Roc. 10.40 a. pi.) LONDON', May 20. A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states,: “A large formation.of. aircraft'of jtho’Rpyal Air Force and the South African Air Force carried'.out attacks on enemy tanks between Fort Capuzzo apd--Halfaya- yesterday. . A number of tanks were put out of action and serious damage inflicted among motor transport vehicles. Oui fighters ; carried out extensive patrols hut no decisive engagements resulted. During Friday night aerodromes at Monastir and Birchlota were raided. Benghazi and Derna were also attack--04 on the following night by our bombers. Full details of these operations are not yet available, but it is known that considerable damage was caused. During operations over Tobruk yesterday three Junkers 87’s were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. “There is no change in the situation at Tobruk. In the area south of Solium two enemy columns supported by numerous tanks crossed the frontier but withdrew after being engaged by*, forward elements of our mechanised forces.

“In Abyssinia our aircraft continued to assist our troops in the moppingup operations. Attacks- were made mainly on enemy motor transports retreating along the roads. “A. number of fires were started at Calato aerodrome, on the Island of Rhodes as the result of the raid carried out pn Saturday night. During enemy attacks on our aerodromes in Crete a Cornier and another unidentified aircraft were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. s

“From all those operations one of our aircraft is missing. “There is no change in the situation at Basra or Habbania.”—British Ofli-. cial Wireless.

BOMBING OF AERODROMES.

DIRECT HIT ON A TRAIN.

LADEN WITH TANKS FOR IRAQ.

(Roc. 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, May 20. A Royal Air Force Middle East i t mmunique says: “In Syria, bombing attacks were made on the Palmyra aerodrome, where there were large Gorman transport aircraft. The Damascus aerodrome and Itnyalc were also bombed and machine-gunned. Raids were also mado on Rnschid aerodrome, in irnc;. —British Official Wireless.

Another report stats that R.A.F. bombers gained a direct bit on one of three trains laden with tanks leaving Rayak for Iraq.