MUCH AIR ACTIVITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 210, 18 June 1941, Page 6

MUCH AIR ACTIVITY.

CO-OPERATION WITH THE ARMY. ACTIONS IN LIBYA AND SYRIA. i (Rec. 2.10 p.m.) LONDON 1 , June 17. . The co-operation of the Imperial air forces with British troops in Libya ?»' described in a Royal Air Force Middle East communique issued on Tuesday; which states: “Aircraft of the Imperial air forces were continuously active throughout yesterday, in support of operations carried out by our /ground forces in Cyrenaiea. Numerous sorties were made by our fighters to drive off aircraft that "were attempting to bomb or machine-gun our troops, and' in many instances the enemy bombers were forced to jettison their bombs without attacking. In the course of the combats with the enemy one Messer.schmitt 109 was shot down and several others severely damaged. One Heinkel was destroyed on the ground. ■ “During Sunday night the harbour at several aerodromes and concentrations of enemy motor transport were heavily attacked, a number of fires being started in the harbour area at Benghazi. “At Bardia aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm started large fires among enemy vehicles, a number of which wore destroyed or damaged. Fires were also started at landing grounds at Derna, Martuba and Mazala, where bombs fell among dispersed aircraft and many of them are believed to have been destroyed. Direct hits were made on military objectives at Bardia. “Aircraft of the R.A.F. and Royal Australian Air Force continued to support the ground operations in Syria and maintain patrols over supporting naval units. Our bombers carried out a successful raid on Rayak, damaging the runway and aerodrome buildings and causing large 'explosions. Australian aircraft bombed and damaged a concentration of enemy mechanical transport near Queneizra. A number of Junker 88’s* were intercepted off the coast by R.A.F. fighters on patrol over' His Majesty’s ships, one enemy being shot down and a number of others damaged. “From all these operations nine of our aircraft are missing.”—British Official Wireless. ♦