AIR OPERATIONS
BRITISH FORCES ACTIVE THROUGHOUT MIDDLE EAST. SYRIA TO ABYSSINIA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) RUGBY, June 10. The presence of Germans in Syria is fully demonstrated in a R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states that enemy raiders bombed Haifa, using “the Germancontrolled base at Aleppo.” The communique says: "Bomber aircraft of the R.A.F. carried out heavy raids on military objectives on the island of Rhodes during the night of June 8. Direct hits were made on the northern mole of Rhodes Harbour. At Calato Aerodrome, large fires were started which were visible 60 miles from the target, and at Kattavia bombs fell among about fifty dispersed aircraft, causing many fires and explosions. “R.A.F. and Australian aircraft have continued to give support to the advance of our troops in Syria. Our fighters attacked and drove off a number of enemy aircraft which attempted io bomb our motor transport at Saneineoin. Patrols were carried out for his Majesty’s ships off the Syrian coast, and during these five enemy aircraft were shot down into the sea.
“Hostile aircraft approached Haifa during last night and were; engaged by anti-aircraft defences. The enemy attack lasted for a considerable time. Bombs were dropped, causing slight damage to civilian property. There were a few casualties, but none of a serious nature. One hostile aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and others were damaged. Before the last enemy raider had returned from Haifa to the German-controlled base at Aleppo, British aircraft were over the aerodrome, bombing aircraft on the ground and the flare path along which raiders were landing. Fires were observed and much damage was caused. “Four S79's were intercepted by our fighters fifty miles west of Malta yesterday. Two of the enemy aircraft were shot down and two others were badly damaged. "Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm attacked the harbour of Tripoli during the night of June 8. A fire was started on a ship and another on the Spanish mole. R.A.F. fighters machinegunned and damaged a number of enemy aircraft on the aerodrome at Derna yesterday. "Enemy positions and troop concentrations in the small area of Abyssinia still occupied by the Italians were ma-chine-gunned and bombed by the R.A.F. and the South African Air Force. “Foui- of our aircraft are missing from all these operations, but the crew of one has been saved."
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1941, Page 6
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395AIR OPERATIONS Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1941, Page 6
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