DISREGARD OF LOSSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 122, 26 May 1941, Page 7

DISREGARD OF LOSSES

NAZI AIR LANDINGS

R.A.F. PILOT'S DESCRIPTION OF BATTLE

LONDON, May 24,

The British airmen who got away from Crete with their planes when the Royal Air Force withdrew are carrying on the fight from the Western Desert, says a correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain.

One pilot, who was one of the last to leave, took off in a damaged fighter from an airfield which the Germans had already bombed. "As New Zealanders who were on the edge of the field fought the parachutists," he said, "I circled over the battle and machine-

gunned the Germans, killing some and dispersing others. The last glimpse I had was of the New Zealanders rapidly getting the situation in hand."

He added that the Germans were landing their troops from the air with ! cynical disregard for losses. Some fell in the sea, others became tangled in trees, and some were shot as they struggled like apes among the branches. Many broke their legs in craggy ravines, and others were blown into : snowdrifts on mountain peaks. j Attempts to land planes and gliders on the beaches were disastrous, because all the beaches were well guarded by Australian patrols, which made short work of them. "It is doubtful if half of the parachutists who were dropped ever got into combat,"' the airman said. BRITISH BOMBERS' ATTACK. An R.A.F. communique today states: "In Crete extensive damage was caused among enemy aircraft and troops at Malemi by aircraft of the R.A.F. yesj terday, when our bombers attacked large numbers of Jus 2's on the aerodrome and beach. Subsequently the enemy were machine-gunned. "Preliminary reports state that at least ten enemy aircraft-were destroyed and many others damaged. Reconnaissance was carried out later in the day and this confirmed that many Jus 2's were burnt out and a large numI ber were made completely unservicei able. "Our long-range fighters also attacked the enemy at Malemi and destroyed at least four large troop-carriers."— U.P.A.