AIR SUPPORT

Evening Star, Issue 23908, 11 June 1941, Page 7

AIR SUPPORT

PATROLS OFF SYRIAN COAST FIVE ENEMY MACHINES DOWN (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph — Copyright (Rcc. 11.50 a.in.) RUGBY, June 10., The presence of the Germans in Syria is fully demonstrated in an R.A.l'. Middle East communique, which states : “ Enemy raiders bombed Haifa, using the German-controlled base at Aleppo. “ Bomber aircraft of the R.A.F. carried out heavy raids on military objectives on the island of Rhodes during the night of June 8-9. Direct hits were made on the northern mole of (Rhodes Harbour. At Calato aerodrome large fires wore started, which were visible GO miles from the target, and at Kattavia bombs fell among about 50 dispersed aircraft, causing many fires and explosions. “ R.A.F. and R.A.A.F. aircraft continued to give support to the advance of our troops in Syria. Our fighters attacked and drove off a number of enemy aircraft which attempted to bomb our motor transport at Sanemein. Patrols were carried out for His Majesty’s ships off the Syrian coast, and during these five enemy aircraft were shot down into the sea. ATTACK ON HAIFA. “ Hostile aircraft approached Haifa during last night and were engaged by anti-aircraft defences. The enemy attack lasted a considerable time, and bombs were dropped, causing slight damage to civilian property. There were a few casualties, but none of a serious nature. One hostile aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and others were damaged. Before the last enemy raider had returned from Haifa to the _ Gorman-controlled base at Aleppo British aircraft were over the aerodrome bombing aircraft on the ground and the flare path along which the raiders were landing. Fires were observed and much damage was caused., “ Four S79’s were intercepted by our fighters 50 miles west of Malta yesterday. Two enemy aircraft were shot down and two others badly damaged. “ Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm attacked the harbour at Tripoli during tho night of June 8-9. A fire was started on a ship and another on the Spanish Mole. R.A.F. fighters machine-gunned and damaged a number of enemy aircraft on the aerodrome at Dei;na yesterday. “ Enemy positions and troop concentrations in the small area of Abyssinia still occupied by tho Italians were ma-chine-gunned and bombed by the R.A.F. and the South African Air Force. “ Four of our aircraft are missing from these operations, but the crew of one has been saved.”

SABOTAGE SUSPECTED THE YUGOSLAV EXPLOSION FIVE THOUSAND CASUALTIES LONDON, June 10. According to the Budapest correspondent of the British United Press, 5,000 people were killed or injured in Semendria as the result of 90 ammunition wagons blowing up in the fortress. It is now reported that 800 German soldiers were among the 5,000 killed or injured in the explosion at Semendria. Yugoslav irregulars are believed to have “touched off” 90 trucks of ammunition when they discovered that it fitted German guns. The industrial section of the town was completely flattened. Eye-witnesses say that there was a blinding flash and then the town seemed to disintegrate in a rush of air, and the site of the dump became a huge hole in the ground. The Germans are censoring news of the tragedy. The town formerly had 12,000 inhabitants and was the centre of a rolling stock factory. FOR FLYING FORTRESSES USE OF UNDERGROUND HANGERS (Rec. 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 10. Colonel Prank Kennedy, of the Army Air Corps, revealed that tiie army is building underground hangars at important off-shore bases which can bo used for flying fortresses at present patrolling the Caribbean Sea. AIR CASUALTY INVERCARGILL PILOT KILLED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 11. The following air casualty was officially announced to-day; — Flving-officer Frederick William Hall,l ones, killed in an aircraft accident overseas. Wr E. G. Hall-Jones. Invercargill (father).