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49. Minelaying by the enemy was curtailed on two nights of the week, when the weather was bad. On other nights twenty to thirty aircraft were engaged, mainly in the Thames Estuary, off the East Anglian and North-East Coasts and in Liverpool Bay.
Middle East and Mediterranean.
Gibraltar.
50. On the 7th October a French Glen-Martin attempted a reconnaissance over Gibraltar, but was driven off by anti-aircraft fire. French aircraft were also reported, on the 2nd and 4th, over Bathurst, Georgetown and Freetown.
Malta.
51. On the 4th October a formation of about twelve enemy fighters passing over the Island were attacked by three Blenheims and three Gladiators. One enemy fighter was shot down and another was damaged.
Egypt and Libya.
52.
Our aircraft successfully attacked shipping and stores in Tobruk Harbour and the barracks at Bardia on the 4th October. Mechanised transport at Sidi Barrani was attacked on two occasions during the week, and it is believed that much damage was done. On the 7th October the landing ground at Kufra in the South-East of Libya was bombed and a transport aircraft was destroyed and a bomber damaged. The landing ground at Bardia was attacked on the 8th and thirty-three enemy aircraft were bombed, but results could not be observed. Bombs were also dropped on the barracks at Sollum.
53. Two attacks were delivered by the enemy during the week. On the 5th October twenty bombers escorted by ten fighters dropped one hundred and sixty bombs on Mersa Matruh. Some damage was done to the Headquarters Fortress and to mechanised vehicles. On the 8th October a few enemy bombers attacked our forward troops near Bugora. No damage was done and one enemy bomber was shot down by our troops.
Sudan, Aden and East Africa.
54.
A number of successful operations were carried out during the week by our aircraft and those of the South African Air Force, from Kenya. On the 3rd October Blenheims made several direct hits on the railway station and petrol dump at Agordat, and on buildings in the Gallabat Forts on the following day. 55. Punitive operations had to be undertaken against the Quteibi tribe in the Aden Protectorate, and three bombing attacks were made on the Wahidi district on the 7th and 9th October by fourteen of our bombers, after preliminary warnings had been given to the inhabitants. Our aircraft also attacked Assab on two occasions, and direct hits were obtained on an ammunition dump, the barracks and the jetties.
56. The only enemy attack was made on Dif, 85 miles south-east of Wajir, on the 7th October. No damage was done and there were no casualties. On the 4th October Gladiators of the South African Air Force intercepted three enemy fighters and destroyed one of them.
Air Intelligence.
Italy.
57. One hundred German transport aircraft are reported to be deployed in Southern Italy. Whilst these transports may be standing by for a possible move towards Yugoslavia and Greece, it is possible that they may be used for transporting troops to Eastern Libya, thereby avoiding the sea crossing and con- sequent employment of the Italian fleet for escort purposes.
58. It is now known that several buildings of the Caproni workshops at Mai Edaga, a satellite of Gura, were damaged by a Royal Air Force raid on the
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