The Germans are likely to subject the areas where descents
by air-borne troops are intended to take place to a short
but intensive preliminary dive-bombing and machine-gunning
attack against such objectives as antiaircraft guns, airdrome
defenses, and troop positions. Accompanying fighter support
will also be used where resistance by Allied fighters is anticipated. In
Crete, though Allied troops had no fighter cover, casualties directly
attributable to dive-bombing attacks were comparatively few when
troops were dispersed and in foxholes (slit trenches), although
these attacks greatly hampered movement of the defending forces
by day. This bombing will cease in the areas selected for descents
as soon as the airborne troops start to arrive, but is likely to be
continued all around the objective. At Malemé the dust of
the air bombardment hid from view the first landings, which were
made by gliders.