ENEMY CONVOY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 May 1941, Page 6

ENEMY CONVOY

ATTACKED IN MEDITERRANEAN MERCHANT VESSEL BLOWN UP DESTROYER SET ON FIRE FLEET AIR ARM IN OPERATION [British Official Wireless] .Rec, 10.20) Rugby, May 15. Widely spread operations of the R.A.F., including the first appearance of the South African Air Force in Cyrenaica are recorded in a R.A.F. communique issued this morning which states: “In the Mediterranean aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm made a highly successful attack on an convoy south bound in the Mediterranean, during the night of 12th-13th May. Hits were made on an 8000-ton merchant vessel and a destroyer. The merchant vessel blew up with violent explosions and the destroyer was last seen with clouds of smoke pouring from it. Pilots confirm that this was not a smoke screen. LANDING GROUND BOMBED “In Cyrenaica on 12th May, R.A.F. bombers successfully attacked enemyaircraft on the Gambut landing ground. Aircraft of the South African air force were in action for the first time in this theatre. : : “On the Dodecanese Islands on the night of 12th May, R.A.F. heavy bomf bers attacked the landing ground at Kaatavia, on the island of Rhodes. Some minutes after the bombs had burst, tr three violent explosions occurred. “Malta island was attacked on the night 12th-13th May by enemy airily craft. There was slight damage but no. casualties. Yesterday a further raid resulted in the destruction of ten houses, the death of one civilian and 2 injury to twelve others. “At Crete enemy aircraft made a continuous attack on Suda bay during 12th23th May, but no damage was caused. ACTIVITY IN IRAQ “In Iraq, Amara barracks and the - compound were attacked yesterday, 13th May, by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm r and direct hits were obtained on buildings. Our aircraft also scored direct 1 hits on the insurgent small arms factory 2 at. Mussiyb, a petrol dump at Raschid and motor transport. A fire was started in the factory. r “In Abyssinia R.A.F. and South Afri- j can Air Force bombers and fighters | were active on 12th May and direct hits were made on the fort at Amba Alagi j and enemy positions were machine- . gunned. Troops hiding near Sciasciam- ! anna were bombed and machine-gun- . ned, an enemy camp also attacked, and ( motor transport and aircraft on the . landing ground at Lekemti machinegunned. Free French Aircraft suecessfully bombed and machine-gunned the aerodrome at Conder yesterday. “From all these operations two of our ] aircraft failed to returp, but one pilot J is safe.” ■ —— i