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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 1235.PDF
MAY 29TH, 1941. WAR IN THE AIR (Continued) say I have no definite information asto the results, but I feel that they can hardly be other than satisfactory inview of the naval forces of which we dispose in the Mediterranean. It is a most strange and grim battlewhich is being fought. Our side have no air support because they have noaerodromes, not because they have no aeroplanes. The other side have verylittl? or none of artillery or tanks. M^ither side has any means- of retreat.It is a desperate, grim battle." Quiet Nights TN order to keep in chronological-*• order we turn now to the air war in the West. For the period under re-view, night raiding on both sides has practically ceased, while daylightactivity has increased. On the 21st an important daylight operation wascarried out by a strong force of bombers accompanied by ample for-mations of Spitfires and Hurricanes as protectors. The target was the powerstation and oil refinery at Gosnay, near Bethune, in Occupied France.Shortly after crossing the French coast enemy fighters engaged our aircraftand a number of combats ensued. In spite of these the enemy was unableto prevent the success of the attack, direct hits being observed on bothobjectives. Five enemy fighters were shot down,four by our fighters and one by our bombers. One of our bombers and sixof our fighters are missing. Since this target is over 50 milesinside occupied territory it is the equivalent of a German attack onLondon via Brighton. The Battle of Britain figures were more favourableJ jifhe defenders than these. On theme day a small force, also from the x>omber Command, made a daylightattack on the enemy naval base of Heligoland. Bombs were dropped anddamage done in a raid carried out eight days previously was observed. After six days' intense hand-to-handfighting in Crete, accompanied by fur- ther reinforcements of the German air-borne troops each day, the military position clarified itself. The Germans ENEMY AIR OverG.B.May 18 3 .,19 5» 20 — ., 21 —„ 22 2 „ 23 —„ 24 1 Totals II Total in Northern LOSSES TO Over Europe 5 5 Area: 4.634.about 1,624 MAY 24th Middle East(Incl. Iraq) 75 2 2215 73 Middle East : WAR IN IRAK : R.A.F. stations on the Irak-Transjordan frontier are guarded bythe Arab Legion of the Amir of Transjordan. It is gratifying to note that we have out there the latest Long-nosed Blenheim with under turrets and see-behind blisters. hold Maleme aerodrome and the areathereabouts, but the aerodrome is still within range of our artillery. Canea,Retimo and Heraklion have all been held against the air invasion. In this show-down between theRoyal Navy and the Luftwaffe mili- tary students will draw conclusions asto the relative value of the two arms. If the outcome is not clear beyond anydoubt, each side will justify its arm with a series of " ifs and buts."Actually, of course, the position is en- tirely freakish. The value of the twoarms should be assessed by considering their ability in harness, and not asindependent units. Extravagant claims have already been made by theAxis as to the number of ships of the Royal Navy which have been sunk inthis action. While it would be ridi- culous to expect that we should nothave losses, it is, at the same time, unwise, to say the least, to place anycredence in their announcements. An interesting feature of this air in-vasion is that the Axis did not tell their people until the operation hadalready been going for some three or four days. This betrays a nervous-ness which has not been noticeable in their invasions hitherto. During the week-end came commu-niques from the R.A.F. Middle East Headquarters in Cairo referring tolong-range fighters being used to lend some air support to our ground troops.No type of aircraft was mentioned, but it is probable that they are long-nosed Fighter Blenheims. These have a range of some 1,250 miles—possiblymore with slight modification—and a speed of 295 m.p.h. Against Stukas,Ju 52s and gliders, they are all that is required, but dog-fighting withMe 109s and 110s would have them at a distinct disadvantage in both speedand fire power. From further east comes the newsof the capitulation of the Duke of Aosta at Amba Alagi with 18,000troops. This leaves only compara- tively small contingents still to becleared up in Abyssinia. The R.A.F. and South African Force have workedwith amazing courage and patience in this most successful campaign. In Syria and Iraq trie Royal AirForce attacked German aircraft on the aerodromes. On -the outcome of thebattle for Crete largely depends the immediate happenings in this area. Aswe go to press comes the announce- ment of the loss of H.M.S. Hood offGreenland in action against German naval forces, including the battleshipBismarck. In the ensuing chase, air- craft of the Fleet Air Arm—presum-ably from an aircraft carrier—scored at least one torpedo hit on the enemy. BRITISH AIR LOSSES TO MAY 24th ,-. — „ Over Europe Middle East uver *».». and the §ea (|f)C, |raq)Aircraft Pilots Aircraft Aircraft May 18 2 2 — 319 4 I — I 20 — — _ 321 — — 8 I 22 — — — 6 23 — — — 2 24 — — I I Totals 1 3 9 Total in Northern Area : 1,979.about 238. Middle East:
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