RELENTLESS ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1941, Page 6

RELENTLESS ATTACKS

MADE BY ROYAL AIR FORCE IM IRAQ AND AFRICA. ENEMY ATTACK ON CRETE BEATEN OFF. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY. May 6. Two very heavy R.A.F. bombing attacks on enemy aerodromes and landing fields in Cyrenaica are recorded in a R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states: ■‘ln Iraq throughout yesterday, aircraft of the R.A.F. maintained constant patrols over the Iraq positions outside the Habbania R.A.F. station. Motor transport and personnel were bombed and several direct hits were registered on gun positions. The results of the shelling of the R.A.F. station and of a little machine-gun fire were negligible. “Iraq military positions were bombed at Diwaniya, and many direct hits were obtained on barracks and administrative buildings. Motor transport at Falluja was also hit. “In Cyrenaica, a very heavy bombing attack was made on Sunday night on Benghazi Harbour. Benina Aerodrome and the landing fields at Barce, Derna and Gazala. At least five enemy aircraft were destroyed by fire at Benina, including one or more large Focke-Wulf Condor troop-carrying aircraft. Enemy aircraft were also mach-ine-gunned at Benina and Derna. while fires and explosions occurred at Benghazi and Barce. Our fighters and bombers were active yesterday in attacking enemy mechanised units in the Bardiai El Adem. Capuzzo and Solium areas. Considerable damage was done to vehicles and personnel. “Enemy aircraft raided Crete on Sunday, but our fighters intercepted and shot down one Junkers 88 and damaged several others, while antiaircraft fire- damaged several more. “In Abyssinia, aircraft of the R.A.F. and South African Air Force continued harassing operations against the enemy in the few areas still held by them. "From all these operations, two of our aircraft are missing.”