DROMES BOMBED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 250, 4 August 1941, Page 6

DROMES BOMBED

RAIDS ON ERETE AND SICILY, ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED, SHIPPING ALSO ATTACHED(United Press Association-Copyright.) (Rec. ,10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 3. Strong attacks by the Royal Al? Force on enemy-occupied Greta are described in the latest R.A.F., Middle East communique, which states: <; ‘R,A.F. bombers carried out a heavy attack on enemy-occupied aerodromes in Crete on Friday night. At Candia very largo explosions, followed by extensive fires, indicated that a petrol dump had been hit. At Maleme bombs appeared - to have exploded on a munitions dump, as a violent detonation was followed by a great fire, sending smoko up to -5000 feet. When our aircraft were 40 miles away the glow of the fire could still be seen over the high intervening mountains. “On Friday our bombers attacked shipping at Lampedusa, an island 150 miles north of Sicily. Two merchant vessels of about 300 tons each were hit by several bombs and wreckage coukl he seen flying high into the air.

“Our aircraft attacked a number of -Savoia 79’s on the aerodrome at Borijlo, in Sicily. Oiie enemy aircraft was destroyed and large numbers badly damaged.

“A large number of Junkers 87’s, escorted by Messerschmitt 109’s, delivered an attack on his Majesty’s ships off the coast of. North Africa yesterday. Our fighters intercepted the enemy formation. They shot down four 87’s and one Messerschmitt 109, and badly damaged several more Messerschmitts. Three of our fighters are missing from this engagement. In addition to the fighters mentioned, one of our aircraft has not so far returned.”—British Official Wireless.