HC Deb 05 November 1956 vol 558 cc202-3W
58. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the use of the Royal Air Force in the attack on Egypt.

Mr. Birch

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence informed the House on Saturday, the Royal Air Force's first task, in conjunction with the Fleet Air Arm and the French Air Force, was the neutralisation of the Egyptian Air Force, by means of bombing attacks on airfields followed by low level ground attacks. This has now been accomplished. For this operation the Middle East Air Force was temporarily supplemented by some bomber and fighter squadrons from the United Kingdom.

The attacks on other military targets, particularly armour, continue.

Royal Air Force transport aircraft have during the past few hours dropped parachute troops in the Canal Zone. This operation was preceded by low level attacks on Egyptian anti-aircraft gun posts.

All these operations have been carried out with the loss of only one Venom aircraft missing.