HEAVY RAIDS

Evening Star, Issue 23907, 10 June 1941, Page 5

HEAVY RAIDS

MIDDLE EAST AIR OPERATIONS ENEMY AERODROMES DAMAGED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.50 a.ra.) RUGBY. Juno 9. The 11.A.F. again hit heavily at enemy bases along the North African coast. These operations, carried out without British losses, are described in the following 11.A.F. Middle East communique:—“On the night of June 7-8 heavy raids were made on aerodromes at Garabut and Capuzzo, as well as two attacks on the harbour of Benghazi. At least two enemy grounded aircraft wero destroyed at Derna. Considerable damage was done to the landing ground at Ganibut, while at Benghazi a number of fires, followed by an explosion, wero caused on the Central and Cathedral moles. “ Our fighters maintained active patrols yesterday over Cyrcnaica, but no contact was made with the enemy. “ In Syria the 11.A.F, gave continuous support to our troops. On other fronts there is little of outstanding importance to report. “ Malta was raided on the night of June 7-8. There was no damage or casualties. A CR 20 Fiat bomber was shot down in flames, two of the crew being captured after a parachute descent. A second unidentified enemy plane was so badly damaged that the crew baled out. None of our planes is missing.” A Nairobi communique, dealing with the fighting in Abyssinia, states: East and West African troops continue to advance in the Omo River area. An additional 200 Europeans, 1,000 Eritreans, and 20 lorries were captured.

14 NAZI PLANES DESTROYED

(British Official Wireless.)

(Rec. 12.50 p.m. RUGBY, June 9. The destruction of at least 14 enemy aircraft on North African airfields is recorded in an additional R.A.F. Middle East comumnique, which states: Last Sunday night R.A.F. _ heavy bombers made prolonged raids on Benghazi and Derna. These were followed at dawn by machine-gun attacks on dispersed aircraft at Derna, Gazala, and camp and motor transport concentrations near Martuha. Considerable damage was caused to the airfields, six enemy aircraft being burnt out at Gazala and a further eight destroyed at Derna. Many other enemy aircraft were badly damaged. Fires and explosions were caused at Benghazi as a result of a bombing raid, while at Derna several hits with high explosives started large fires, followed by explosions. Two of our planes have so far failed to return. . • AERIAL WARFARE AXIS PLANE LOSSES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 9. Axis aircraft losses for the week ended at dusk on Saturday totalled 36, compared with 22 of the R.A.F, Over Britain and round the British coasts tho Germans lost 13 planes, of which 10 w r ere brought down at night, and the R.A.F. lost none. Over Germany and German-occupied territory the Germans lost six and the R.A.F. 17. The Germans also lost one plane at sea. In the Middle East the Axis lost seven in the air and six on the ground, while tho R.A.F. lost five. Three enemy aircraft were destroyed by His Majesty’s ships.

GERMAN AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY OVER STRAITS OF DOVER OTHER COASTAL AREAS VISITED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY, Juno 9. An official communique states: During daylight to-day there has been activity over the Straits of Dover and near the coast of Kent, and also over the coastal districts of South and South-west England. Up to 8 p.m. there were no reports of bombs being dropped In. engagements with our fighters protecting shipping in the Straits several enemy fighters wore seen to ho hit and damaged, but, owing to poor visibility, the destruction cannot bo confirmed. One of our fighters was lost.

TO VISIT WHITE HOUSE (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, June 9. It is understood in official Dutch circles in London that President Roosevelt has invitedi Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhardt to spend a day with Mr and Mrs Roosevelt on the occasion of their forthcoming visit to the United States, and, that the invitation has been accepted. POWDER DEPOT EXPLODES HEAVY CASUALTIES IN YUGOSLAVIA BELGRADE, June 9. A powder depot explosion at Semcndria destroyed two-thirds of the town and killed over 1,000. DECLINE IN EXPORTS POSITION IN AUSTRALIA CANBERRA, June 9. Exports of merchandise from Australia during the 11 months ended May 31 fell away by £10,000,000 compared with 1939-40. Officially the decline is regarded as relatively small in view of the shipping shortage and dislocation of trade routes.