WIDESPREAD OPERATIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 22 May 1941, Page 5

WIDESPREAD OPERATIONS

i INTENSIVE RAIDS ON AERODROMES IN GREECE DAMAGE DONE IN IRAQ (British Official Wireless! (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) Rugby. May 21. Operations by British aircraft in the five Mediterranean areas are described in an R.A.F. Middle East communique on Wednesday which states: “In the western desert our aircraft continued their offensive patrols. At Medill a Ju 52 was set on fire and destroyed, and a Messerschmitt 110 shot down by our fighters just after it had taken off. In the Gazala and Tobruk areas, enemy motor transport was successfully ma-chine-gunned. “Last night our heavy bombers carried out intensive raids on Germanoccupied aerodromes in Greece. Details are not yet available. “In Iraq our position at Fallujah has been consolidated. An enemy air attack was intercepted by our fighters on patrol and driven off. The aerodrome at Raschid was heavily bombed at dawn yesterday, and considerable damage was done to hangars and other buildings. German aircraft which raided Habbania during the afternoon did some slight damage. Our fighters intercepted them .and it is believed that at least two machines were severely damaged. Two Ju 52’s on the ground at Palmyra were bombed and damaged I At Dasmascus a few German aircraft were attacked but the results could not be observed. “An enemy attack was made on Malta and some damage caused to the aerodrome and civilian property. There were no service casualties. One of our fighters which drove off the enemy was shot down but the pilot is safe.”