STRONG ATTACKS ON CRETE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 4 August 1941, Page 5

STRONG ATTACKS ON CRETE

R.A.F. BOMBERS IN ACTION OTHER WIDESPREAD DAMAGE • Rec. 10.50 a.m.) Rugby, Aug. 3. Strong attacks by the R.A.F. on enemy ocupied Crete are described in the latest R.A.F. Middle East communique which states: “R.A.F. bombers carried out a heavy attack on enemy occupied aerodromes in Crete on the night of lst-2nd August. At Candia very large explosions followed by extensive fires indicated that a petrol dump had been hit. At Maleme bombs appeared to have exploded on a munitions dump as a violent detonation was followed by a great fire sending smoke up to five thousand feet. When our aircraft were 40 miles away the glow of the fire could j still be seen over high intervening mountains. TWO SHIPS HIT On Ist August our bombers attacked shipping at Lampedusa. Two merchant vessels of about three hundred ton- each were hit by several bombs and wreckage could be seen flying high into the air. Our aircraft also atacked and silenced machine-gun posts. Other aircraft attacked a 1 number of S79’s on the aerodrome at Bor ill o in Sicily. One enemy aircraft was destroyed and large numbers badly damaged. ENEMY PLANES INTERCEPTED A large number of JUB7’s escorted bv Meserschmitt 109’s delivered an attack on His Majesty’s ships off the North African coast yesterday. Our fighters . intercepted the enemy formation and shot down four 87’s and one ME SlO9 and badly damaged several more Mes>erschmitts. Three of our fighters are ; missing from this engagement. In addition to the fighters mentioned one of lour aircraft has not so far returned. R( l W