MUCH DAMAGE DONE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 May 1941, Page 5

MUCH DAMAGE DONE

ROYAL AIR FORCE ATTACKS IN FIVE MEDITERRANEAN AREAS. INTENSIVE BOMBING OF BASES . IN GREECE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, May 21. Operations by British aircraft in five Mediterranean areas are described in a R.A.F. Middle East communique which states: — “In the Western Desert our aircraft continued offensive patrols. At Medili a Junkers 52 was set on fire and destroyed and a Messerschmitt 110 was shot down by our fighters, just after it had taken off. In the Gazala and Tobruk areas enemy motor transport has been successfully machine-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 Falluja 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 Junkers 52’s. on the ground at Palmyra were bombed and damaged. At Damascus a few German aircraft were attacked, but results could not be observed.

"An enemy attack was made on Malta.and some damage was caused to an aerodrome and to civilian property. There were no service casualties. One of our fighters, which drove off the enemy, was shot down, but the pilot is safe."