R.A.F. HITS HARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 7

R.A.F. HITS HARD

MIDDLE EAST RAIDS

AMERICAN PLANES USED

MANY EXPLOSIONS

(bflec. noon.). RUGBY, May 20. R.A.F. cbunter-measures to the latest Nazi efforts in the eastern Mediterranean are described in the R.A.F. bMiddle East communique which states: "In Irak and Syria aircraft of the R.A.F. bombed military targets in and around Fallujah yesterday prior to the entry of our troops into the town. Our aircraft also attacked Palmyra aerodrome in Syria where German aircraft were machine-gunned and bombed.

During the night of May 18-19 heavy raids were made on German-occupied aerodromes in Greece. Three very violent explosions and a number of fires were caused at Hassani. At EV-usis one building received a direct hit and several fires were started.

Enemy aircraft carried out a sustained attack throughout yesterday on aerodromes in Crete. A hospital at Canea was bombed and machinegunned and some casualties were caused among the hospital staff.

Later reports disclose that on May 16 much greater damage was done to enemy aircraft over Crete than was fir-' reported. Five aircraft were destroyed in addition to those already claimed.

In the Western Desert R.A.F. bomber and fighter aircraft carried out a series of attacks on enemy transport and mechanised units. A number of these vehicles' were burned and many others made unserviceable by being ditched at the roadside. Some vehicles contained troops.

In a raid carried out on Benghazi on the night of May 18-19 no fewer than twenty-eight explosions were caused in buildings on the mole. From all these operations three of our aircraft are missing."

During operations in Irak naval aircraft which had been damaged while taking part in an attack on the barracks at Samawa had to make a forced landing three miles south of the town and was quickly surrounded by members of Rashid Ali's forces who opened fire. Other naval aircraft which had observed the incident promptly landed and rescued the crew without casualty in the face of armed opposition and once more took to the air.

American aircraft were used in the air bombardment of the enemy positions around Fort Capuzzo on the afternoon of May 18. This was the first time aircraft manufactured in the United States had been used as bombers in the North African campaign, states the Air Ministry News Service.

Heavy bombs were dropped on German tanks and mechanised vehicles dispersed near the old Capuzzo aerodrome. The squadron has an American citizen,on its nominal roll. He is a sergeant air-gunner who was awarded the D.F.M. for gallantry in the Abyssinian campaign.—B.O.W.