RECENT BOMBING OF BEIRUT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 259, 29 July 1941, Page 7

RECENT BOMBING OF BEIRUT

German Propaganda Effort SYRIAN AIR REVIEW

(British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) LONDON, July 27.

It is now established that much of the bombing of Beirut during the Syrian campaign was not done by the British. A search revealed that a 2000pound German mine was dropped from the air. Two German bombers were shot down in the neighbourhood of Beirut, which was also raided on nights when no British planes were over the town. Therefore, it is concluded that a great deal of damage was due to bombing other than that carried out by British machines.

Some details of the operations by the small air force available for the Syrian campaign can now be given. The R.A.F. strength consisted of a few squadrons of Hurricanes, Blenheims, and Gladiators, with some American Marylands and with assistance from Wellington bombers operating from Egypt. The Royal Australian Air Force was represented by a squadron of American Tomahawk fighters, which rendered very great service indeed. These aircraft were reinforced by two more squadrons and aided by a few sorties carried out by Blenheims flown from Iraq. Minimum Losses Achieved.

Opposed to them were some 113 Vichy first-line aircraft, about 60 of them obsolete machines which received assistance at various times from a number of Junkers 88’s.

In the month’s campaign 81 Vichy aircraft were destroyed, 42 of them ou the ground. The British Imperial losses were 21 shot down and one other on tire ground. Only one Tomahawk was destroyed.

Tire general object of the operations was to gain strategic control with the minimum loss to the opposing forces and the civilian population, and it is a matter of satisfaction that this object was achieved.

While it would be invidious to select any particular squadron for special mention, on June 13 spectacular success was achieved by the Australians flying tire Tomahawks, when they destroyed three, and drove off the remaining five, of eight Junkers 88’s which were attempting to attack British warships. The Australians suffered no loss in this engagement. In performing duties of bombing troops, making attacks on Vichy aerodromes, and carrying out reconnaissance, the bombers made nearly 400 sorties and the Hurricanes nearly 600.