AIR OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 228, 23 June 1941, Page 8

AIR OFFENSIVE

Axis Middle East Losses SCORE 66 TO 37 (British Official Wireless.) (Received June 22, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 21. A survey of air operations in the Middle East during- the week ended at dusk on Thursday shows considerable Royal Air Force achievements. Axis losses during the week were nearly double those of the Empire forces. Benghazi was bombed seven times and Gazala six times. During the fourth attack on the former a violent explosion near the mole of Benghazi was followed by a fire of such magnitude that it was visible for 90 miles. In all Middle Eastern operations 66 enemy planes were destroyed at a cost of 37 British planes, four of whose pilots safely returned to our lines. Calato aerodrome on the island of Rhodes was raided on three successive nights, fires being started among both the hangars and the planes outside. Tripoli was raided by the Fleet Air Arm on the night of Thursday, and on Wednesday two attacks on Malta were headed off by our lighters. Ten large vehicles were destroyed in an attack on motor transport on ihe Barce-El Gubba road on Friday and 19 vehicles between Gazala and Fort Capuzzo in a day raid on Saturday. Tn the same area on Sunday transport columns and armoured vehicles were machine-gunned and disabled. In the Sidi Omar district tanks and transports were attacked on Tuesday and 20 vehicles destroyed or disabled. Air Activity In Syria. In Syria British air units continued their support of the Imperial and Free French ground forces, besides attacking the Rayak and Aleppo aerodromes—the latter twice—and shipping in the port of Beirut. On Friday afternoon three Junkers 99’s were shot down into the sea and others damaged by the Royal Australian Air Force off the Syrian coast. Eigiit or nine Junkers 88's with Italian markings were about to attack our naval forces three miles west of Sidon when a number of lighters of the R.A.A.F. intervened. Four of the Junkers dived and dropped their bombs, but the remainder had to jettison their loads and retire. Tlie Australians then attacked and three enemy planes were seen falling into the sea. Others were seriously damaged, one flying away with its wing tip burning. Tlie Australians •suffered neither damage nor casualties. Air operations over and around Britain have been equally successful (luring the week ended at dawn on Saturday. Seventeen German aircraft wore destroyed—seven on the night of Friday last, one on Saturday night, one on Sunday night, four on Monday night, one on Tuesday night, one on Thursday night, and two during the day on Friday. During the saute period not a single British aircraft has been reported lost in this area.