DAYLIGHT ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1943, Page 3

DAYLIGHT ATTACK

MADE BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT ON CRETE AIRFIELDS & OTHER TARGETS DAMAGED. ALLIED WARNING TO NAZI GOVERNOR. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 24. A Middle East air communique states: —“A formation of R.A.F. and Royal Hellenic Air Force Hurricanes, Baltimores, and Beaufighters carried out large-scale offensive operations against enemy forces and installations in Crete in daylight yesterday An ammunition dump was set on lire and blew up, and tented camps, gun positions, cars and transport vehicles v\ere successfully attacked by cannon and machine-gun fire. Wireless and power stations were shot up and damaged. Light bombers scored direct hits on factories at lerapetra and Heraklion (Candia), on the north coast. During other operations, one Junkers 88 was destroyed off the coast cf Cyrenaica. Well over 100 aircraft took part in this spectacular daylight raid on the German garrison in Crete, according to Cairo correspondents. The fact that 17 machines have so far not reported does not indicate that they were engaged in heavy aircombat. On the contrary there was very little enemy air activity over the island. Among targets attacked all over the island was a first-class aerodrome in the Malemi area. Shipping in Birabella Bay also suffered. The King of the Hellenes, accompanied by the Air Officer Commanding, Middle East Command, Sir Sholto Douglas, afterward visited the Greek squadrons which participated. The German military governor of Crete, General Bauer, has ordered the execution of 50 Cretans who are accusi cd Qf helping British troops who raided aerodromes on the island on July 4. General Bauer has also imposed a curfew and closed all cinemas to civilians. The Hellenic news service stated yesterday that the Al.lies warned General Brauer that his name and those of his subordinates had been added to the list of war criminals.