MANY ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1941, Page 5

MANY ATTACKS

MADE BY R.A.F. IN MIDDLE EAST HEAVY RAID.S IN LIBYA & IRAQ. J TWO ENEMY BOMBERS SHOT DOWN AT MALTA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.3 a.m.) RUGBY. May 8. A R.A.F. Middle East, communique states: “In Iraq the Bagdad airport was bombed by the R.A.F. yesterday. Some damage was done to buildings and an aerodrome road. Violent, explosions occurred when direct hits were obtained on a magazine at Washash. near Bagdad. Other bombs hit military buildings. Bombs were also dropped on dispersed aircraft at Hanaidi. There is little activity to report in the Habbania area. Yesterday our troops, occupying high ground outside the cantonment, met with no opposition, except for occasional sniping. . Hostile forces, seen to the east of our positions were heavily attacked from the air. “In Libya heavy and successful raids were carried out by our bombers on military objectives at Benghazi and on the landing grounds at Berka. Benina and Derna. At Berka, fires and explosions were caused. A hangar- was hit and two enemy aircraft on the ground were destroyed by fire. At Benghazi, bombs hit the central breakwater and fell near ships. Fires and explosions were caused near the Customs House and the Cathedral Mole. At Benina, buildings were hit. A number of bombs fell among enemy aircraft dispersed on the ground. Several fires were caused at Derna. one large one in all probability being an enemy aircraft. A number of reconnaissance flights were made and fighters carried out outstanding patrols. “In Abyssinia, enemy columns and positions near Amba Alagi were bombed. The Gondar landing. ground was attacked by Free French aircraft and enemy positions in other areas were raided with success. “In the Mediterranean, aircraft of the R.A.F. attacked an enemy convoy, obtaining direct hits on two merchant ships, one of which was left smoking and both had bad lists. An SBl was met and shot down into the sea. “Malta was raided by enemy aircraft on the night of May 6, when some damage was caused to property. Two Junkers 88’s were shot down by antiaircraft fire and one by night fighters. “From all the above operations our aircraft returned safely.”