SUPPLEMENT TO THE GAZETTE, 19 SEPTEMBER, 1946 4683

Hurricanes to 6. These and 14 Gladiators No. 30 Squadron, 9 fighter Blenheims of No. of Nos. 80 and 112 Squadrons were flown to 203 Squadron (recently sent to Crete from Crete on 23rd April to defend Suda Bay against Egypt to take part in this operation) and the enemy air attack and to take part with No. 30 remaining 6 Hurricanes and 14 Gladiators of Squadron in providing cover for sea convoys Nos. 33, 80 and 112 Squadrons. At this stage, engaged in the evacuation. Sunderlands however, only 6 of the 14 Gladiators were started to evacuate R.A.F. personnel on igth serviceable. April, when they flew a 30 Squadron party to Blenheims usually operating in patrols of Crete. The previous day they had also carried six aircraft provided such cover for convoys as Peter of Yugoslavia and other important was possible in the vicinity of the mainland political personages to Egypt, having taken of , iwhile Hurricanes and Gladiators them off from Kotor (Yugoslavia) on ijth provided patrols over convoys approaching April. Sunderlands continued the evacuation Crete and during their disembarkation at Suda of essential personnel in stages from Greece Bay. At the same time, Sunderlands provided to Crete, thence to Egypt. The King of Greece Ionian and Mediterranean reconnaissances to and members of the Greek were guard against possible raids on our convoys by included among other important passengers units of the Italian Navy. flown to Crete in Sunderlands on 22nd and 23rd April. During the six months' campaign in Greece our Squadrons contended throughout with 46. On 23rd April the Sunderlands were numerically superior enemy air forces, emerging reinforced by two B.O.A.C. Flying Boats in the end with much credit although sadly which operated 'between Crete and Egypt and depleted in strength. Our total aircraft losses rendered valuable service. These efforts were amounted to 209, of which 82 had to be des- further augmented on the same day by troyed and abandoned by our own forces Bombays of No. 216 Squadron which took two during the withdrawal and subsequent evacua- parties from Eleusis to Bagush, and the fol- tion. Many of the latter had been damaged lowing day by Lodestars of No. 267 Squadron during enemy attacks on our aerodromes and which carried three parties from Argos to in normal circumstances might have been re- Bagush. Enemy air attacks rendered Eleusis paired. Our total losses of aircraft, missing and Menidi aerodromes unusable after 23rd and in combat with the enemy were 72. April, and Argos was similarly out of action from 24th April. The Bombays and Lodestars As a comparison, the losses inflicted on the thereafter continued to carry personnel from enemy totalled 259 aircraft destroyed and 99 Crete to Egypt. The last Sunderland loads probably destroyed, with several others to leave Scaramanga were taken off on 24th damaged. Of 'these, 231 were destroyed and April and included Lieutenant-General Sir T. 94 .probably destroyed in combat with our air- Blarney, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., and Air Vice- craft. Marshal J. H. D'Albiac,' D.S.O., and their Our personnel losses in Greece amounted to respective staffs. 148 killed and missing and 15 taken prisoner. On 24th April 1,700 R.A.F. personnel Of the total, 130 were aircrews. Such losses were at Argos awaiting evacuation by sea but cannot be considered unduly heavy, bearing by the next day the majority of these had in mind the difficulties of the campaign and moved to Kalamata and Gytheon, three the hazards of the subsequent evacuation. Sunderland loads toeing taken off from the 48. I cannot speak too highly of the work of former, and one from the latter and flown to Air Vice-Marshal J. H. D'Albiac, D.S.O., who Crete. Subsequently all personnel remaining commanded the British Air Force in Greece there were evacuated by sea, many of them during the whole six months' campaign. His crossing in small boats to Kythera whence they initiative, his .personality and tact in dealings were later taken off in destroyers. Further with the Greek High Command, enabled him, Sunderland evacuations from Greece, were right up to the end, to obtain the maximum made from Nauplia (Morea), transporting results in support of the from the small Prince , the Greek Prime force at his disposal. Minister and other important passengers in- cluding General Sir, Maitland Wilson and Of tfiose under his Command, the most out- Generals Mackay and Rankin. standing for their valuable services were:— Meanwhile flying boats of Nos. 228 and 230 Group Captain A. H. Willets, Senior Air Squadrons and landplanes continued -the Staff Officer during the whole period. evacuation from Crete to* Egypt, the last flight being made by a Sunderland on 2nd May. Wing Commander P. B. Coote, who com- The total number of personnel evacuated iby manded the Western Wing (The Albanian air from Greece to Crete was over 600, and Front) and himself took part in many of the from Crete and Greece to Egypt 870. Two fighter patrols and bombing raids of his Sunderlands were dost in these operations, one Squadrons, from the last of which he is missing. of which crashed while alighting by night at Wing Commander J. R. Gordon-Finlayson, Kalamata, and the other was destroyed by D.S.O., D.F.C., commanding No. 211 enemy air action at Scaramanga. Squadron, and later the Eastern Wing. A fine leader and an inspiration to his Squadron, 47. The main evacuation from Greece of with which he had completed over one hundred British and Imperial Forces was effected be- raids. tween 24th and 30th April in convoys of H.M. Ships and other vessels. All available aircraft Squadron Leader E. G. Jones, D.F.C., operated in support to protect the convoys commanding No. 80 (F) Squadron; his leader- against the heavy enemy air attacks to which ship maintained the high morale and efficiency they were constantly subjected, and which of this Squadron whose six months' record in were causing heavy losses. The forces avail- Greece, mostly in Gladiators, was quite able in Crete were 14 fighter Blenheims of remarkable.