bombers of 30 and 203 squadrons from Egypt and the remaining fighter aircraft from Greece, to cover the evacuation of W Force, which enabled the transfer of 25,000 British and Dominion troops to the island, preparatory to their relief by fresh troops from Egypt.

The navy tried to deliver 27000 LT of supplies from 1-20 May 1941, but Luftwaffe attacks forced most ships to turn back, and only were delivered. Only about 3,500 trained British and Greek