R.A.F. OPERATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1941, Page 6

R.A.F. OPERATIONS

DAMAGING ATTACK MADE ON MALEMI DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS IN OTHER AREAS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY. May 27. A communique issued by R.A.F. headquarters in the Middle East states: — "In Crete the R.A.F. continued to inflict heavy losses on the enemy yesterday. Fighter aircraft carried out a highly successful attack on Malemi, where they shot down five Junkers 52s laden with troops. A number of additional Junkers 52s were shot down by our fighters, three of which failed to return. Our fighters also attacked about 100 Junkers 62s concentrated on the ground at Malemi, inflicting heavy damage. At dusk, R.A.F. bombers renewed the attack on the same area and set fire to several enemy grounded aircraft. "During the previous night, a heavy attack was made on beaches and aerodromes by our bombers. "In Iraq, the aerodrome at Mosul was bombed yesterday and fires were started among buildings. One Heinkel 111. near Balad station, was shot up by one of our fighters. ‘‘German aircraft bombed Habbania yesterday afternoon without causing damage or casualties. "In Libya the harbour of Benghazi was again bombed yesterday. A number of fires were started on railway sidings. Bursts were observed on the telephone exchange and quay, between a petrol depot and coal stores. "In the Mediterranean, other operations yesterday included a successful attack on enemy merchant vessels off the North African coast and a raid on an aerodrome on the island of Scarpanto.”