IN FIVE AREAS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 187, 22 May 1941, Page 5

IN FIVE AREAS

BRITISH ACTIVITY IN THE AIR.

ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED.

ANOTHER RAID ON MALTA. (Roc. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 21. Operations by British aircraft in five Mediterranean areas are described to-day in a Royal Air Force Middle East communique, which states: “In the Western Desert, our aircraft continued offensive patrols. At Meddi a Junkers 52 was set. on fire and destroyed, RBcl a Messersclimitt 110 was shot down by our fighters just after 't had taken off. In the Gazala and Tobruk areas enemy motor transport was successfully machine-gunned. “Last night our heavy bombers emlled out. intensive raids on German occupied aerodromes in Greece. Details are not vet available.

“In Iraq, our position at Fulluja has been consolidated. An enemy air attack was intercepted by our fighters on patrol and driven off. The aerodrome at Rasehid was heavily bombed at dawn yesterday and considerable damage was done to hangars and othef buildings. German aircraft which raid* ed Habbaniya during the afternoon did some slight- damage. Our fighters intercepted them and it is believed that at least two planes were severely dam aged. Two Junkers 52’s on the ground at Palmyra were bombed and damaged. “At Damascus a few German aircraft were attacked, but the results could not be observed. “An enemy attack was made on Malta and some damage was caused to the aerodrome and to civilian property. There were no service casualties. One of our fighters which drove off the enemy was shot down, but the pilot is safe.”—British Official Wireless.