After 5pm on 20 May transport aircraft started to drop paratroops. Over a period of two hours, paratroops were dropped in time periods of twenty minutes. Ju-52 transports dropped some 3,000 paratroops. They were carried in some 240 troop transports. At least 15 transports were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. The paratroops were dropped from an altitude of about 250 feet. Many paratroops were shot as they descended, Most of the paratroops landed near the airfield or west of the town.
About 200 paratroops were shot in the air or as they landed. The paratroops that landed in areas occupied by infantry were shot before they could collect and find their equipment. After more bombing, paratroops landed beyond the fortress area. The battalions immediately attacked the paratroops. The Black Wztch were able to clear the airfield except for some snipers. Some Germans occupied the barracks. The Scots cleared the East Wadi of Germans.
This is based on the account in "Greece, Crete, and Syria" by Gavin Long
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