Post by Diarist on Dec 25, 2015 9:49:17 GMT 1
At 04:30 the Greek which had embarked at Crete yesterday was landed on the east coast of Rhodes between Lindos and Pefki. This part of Rhodes is almost totally habited by Greeks so the troops were very welcome. Together with support from local civilians work commenced on building an airstrip. The Italian police in the area quietly arrested and placed in their own prison cells.
At 06:30 a fireship exploded at Leros, an island north of Rhodes and the main Italian Air and Naval base in the island group. This was followed by an intense barrage from the battleships HMS Repulse and HMs Renown from Task Force 'C'. The Greek Battle Force was busy bombarding the Italian fortifications at Rhodos as well as the main airfield SW of the capital. When Task Force 'C' arrived at 08:15 troops from the Greek 1st Infantry Division started disembarking slight south of Rhodos airfield and quickly occupied it.
By the evening the only Italian resistance was in the capital Rhodos. Few Italians lived outside of Rhodos and most of those on the remainder of the island were detained by Greek militia which had quickly formed. In a related operation four squadrons of Handley Page Heyfords, the 70th RAF Bomber Wing, left France at 03:00 and bombed the Foggia airfield complex in eastern Italy. The aircraft then proceeded to Salonika in northern Greece. In the afternoon they transferred to Crete after bombing the Italian bases on Leros.
At 06:30 a fireship exploded at Leros, an island north of Rhodes and the main Italian Air and Naval base in the island group. This was followed by an intense barrage from the battleships HMS Repulse and HMs Renown from Task Force 'C'. The Greek Battle Force was busy bombarding the Italian fortifications at Rhodos as well as the main airfield SW of the capital. When Task Force 'C' arrived at 08:15 troops from the Greek 1st Infantry Division started disembarking slight south of Rhodos airfield and quickly occupied it.
By the evening the only Italian resistance was in the capital Rhodos. Few Italians lived outside of Rhodos and most of those on the remainder of the island were detained by Greek militia which had quickly formed. In a related operation four squadrons of Handley Page Heyfords, the 70th RAF Bomber Wing, left France at 03:00 and bombed the Foggia airfield complex in eastern Italy. The aircraft then proceeded to Salonika in northern Greece. In the afternoon they transferred to Crete after bombing the Italian bases on Leros.