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dropped to facilitate these operations. The seaplane base at Mok and the naval base at Helder were attacked. During daylight a number of merchant vessels and barges were attacked, but definite results were not observed.
38. During the week minelaying was continued by enemy aircraft. Eight convoys between Kinnaird Head and the Thames Estuary were attacked, two attacks being also made on shipping about 340 miles west of Bloody Foreland. Bomber reconnaissance aircraft were very active, covering a wide area, including the Shetlands, South Wales, the Bay of Biscay, and the west coast of Ireland the usual routine meteorological flights were maintained.
Middle East and Mediterranean.
Malta.
39. On the 27th September nine bombers, escorted by fifteen fighters, dropped bombs on Luqa Aerodrome, damage was done to the runways, several buildings and to two unserviceable aircraft; one bomber and one fighter were shot down.
Egypt and Libya.
40. Enemy aircraft were attacked on the landing grounds at Sollum, El Gazala, Maraua and at a point 10 miles west of Barrani, and a number of aircraft were destroyed and others damaged. The harbour at Tobruk was attacked; large fires were started and a ship is believed to have been hit. Con- centrations of mechanised transport were attacked at Giarabub, and in the vicinity of Barrani. On information received from a prisoner of war and later confirmed, water storage tanks were attacked on two occasions at Buq Buq and direct hits made, a number of heavy bombs being droppped in the target area. The fort at Giarabub was attacked, a direct hit causing a cloud of black smoke. In the course of these operations a number of enemy aircraft were encountered and some were shot down. Fleet Air Arm operations are recorded in the Naval Section.
Italian air activity has been almost negligible, and the only attacks of any importance were those on British naval units, reported in the Naval Section.
Sudan, Aden and East Africa.
41. During the week both our own aircraft and those of the South African Air Force carried out a number of successful operations. The power house at Macaaca was attacked, and six Blenheims made a successful dive-bombing attack on the aerodrome at Dessie. Assab was attacked on six occasions, direct hits being made on sheds and buildings. Three attacks were made on Gura, and two on Mai Adaga. A very successful attack was carried out by six Blenheims against the Col de Har tunnel on the Jibuti railway, a direct hit being made on the tunnel entrance with a 500-lb. bomb. Two further attacks were made on the Jibuti railway; at Aisha station a stick of bombs burst along a train and the line is believed blocked.
42. Enemy air activity was on a minor scale. A single aircraft attacked Aden, and a number of enemy aircraft attacked forward troop positions at Gallabat, but in neither case were damage or casualties caused. One aircraft attacked Rozieres, on the Blue Nile, and buildings were slightly damaged.
Palestine.
43. On the 29th September ten unidentified aircraft dropped bombs on Haifa, damaging a water tank and telephone and power wires. Naval sources report that one of these aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and landed at Beirut; the pilot was German and the crew of five, Italians.
Air Intelligence.
Italy.
44. Italian press reports hail the new seaplane station which is being built at Rome as the largest in Europe.
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