Page 160
!
I
Page 160
7
preparations. The approach of winter must soon force a decision on Italy, although recent events suggest that an attack on Greece might be part of a larger scheme which would include a southward thrust by Bulgaria, and possibly also a south-eastward move by Germany against Turkey. There is as yet no reliable evidence of Bulgarian troop concentrations indicating an imminent offensive.
32. The Greek defences against attack both from Albania and from Bulgaria are well advanced. Practically no defensive works have been under- taken along the Yugoslav frontier, and an attack through this quarter would take the country at a serious disadvantage.
Gibraltar.
33.
Arrangements are being made to remove a further 1,600 civilians from Gibraltar. They are being sent direct to the West Indies.
Faroes.
34. Two further 5.5-inch Coast Defence guns are now in position at Naes (Tofte).
Middle East.
Egypt, Sudan and East Africa.
35. There has been no change in the operational situation during the week under review.
5th Indian Division are disposed in their battle positions South and West of Kassala.
141
AIR SITUATION.
General Review.
36. During the week our bombing attacks on enemy targets have been restricted because of unfavourable weather, and on three nights operations had to be cancelled. There was also a reduction in the scale of enemy operations against this country, probably for the same reason. London was again the chief target of the enemy, while the Liverpool-Manchester area received more attention than any other provincial area.
Our operations in the Mediterranean and Middle East have been on the same scale as those of the last few weeks, and those of the enemy have again been comparatively light.
Operational aircraft battle casualties are recorded in Appendix V, and Appendix VI contains further extracts from Raid Assessment Reports.
Enemy Territory in Europe.
37. Our operations against targets in enemy territory were considerably hampered during the week by unfavourable weather conditions. Operations on four days of the week were greatly restricted, and on three nights they had to be cancelled owing to very bad weather; Bomber Command flew 121 day and 431 night sorties. However, many important targets have been attacked, including oil plants, aluminium works, aircraft factories, marshalling yards and shipping.
38. Attacks on shipping in enemy-occupied ports have been continued and were directed mainly against Calais, Boulogne, Havre and Brest. Particularly heavy attacks were made against Calais and Boulogne on the night of the 7th/8th October, by thirty heavy bombers. Many fires were started and there were several explosions. The gun emplacements at Cap Gris Nez were attacked on the same night by eight heavy bombers, but results could not be observed.
39. The West, Wilmersdorf and Moabit power stations in Berlin were successfully attacked by thirteen heavy bombers on the night of the 7th/8th October, and in each instance large fires were started. Eight other heavy bombers
[21814]
C
Page 160
Page 160
Page 160Page 161