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reverted to the dropping of parachute mines. New devices reported were a combined incendiary and explosive bomb, and large balloons for the distribution of leaflets.
38. About three-quarters of the night attacks were directed against London, but bombs were also scattered over rural districts, particularly in the Home Counties. In the Provinces, Liverpool, Birmingham, Coventry and Bristol suffered comparatively heavy attacks. On the 15th-16th the number of enemy aircraft operating over Great Britain was the highest experienced at night, some 450 long-range bombers being employed. Throughout the week railway communica- tions seem to have received particular attention, and seventeen Royal Air Force stations were attacked, though with negligible results. Enemy reconnaissance activity was continued on the same scale as before.
39. During the week Fighter Command flew an average of 35 sorties each night and a total of 812 patrols, involving 4,005 sorties by day. Details of casualties are given in Appendix V. Two enemy aircraft were shot down by our fighters on the night of the 15th-16th, and at least two more were destroyed the following night.
North Sea and Coastal.
40. During the week, 412 anti-invasion and anti-submarine patrols, and offensive and photographic reconnaissances, involving 437 sorties, were flown by Coastal Command aircraft and 135 Convoys were escorted. Aircraft of Coastal Command also took part in the offensive operations against the Channel Ports, which have already been described. The North Sea sweep was flown on five days by six Bomber Command Blenheims. On the 15th a Sunderland dropped supplies to a ship's boat 94 miles west of St. Kilda and, on the following day, another Sunderland landed twenty-one survivors from S.S. Sangrant at Oban.
41. From ten to thirty enemy minelaying aircraft operated each night, mainly off the East and North-East Coasts, though similar activity was suspected off the South and North-Western coasts on two nights of the week.
Middle East and Mediterranean.
Malta.
42. On the 8th October, four enemy aircraft approached the Island. Hurricane shot down one and severely damaged a second, the remaining two making off before reaching the coast. An air attack on the 16th is also reported, but no details have been received. On the 15th October, one of two French aircraft (Loire 130), due to join the Richelieu, landed at Malta.
Egypt and Libya.
43. Our aircraft carried out four raids on Benghazi, resulting in direct hits on seven ships, the demolition of two large warehouses and considerable other damage. Tobruk was attacked on four days, and during these operations a direct hit was scored on a large ship and fires started among buildings of military importance. A number of aircraft were bombed on the ground at Bardia on the 8th, and important buildings were successfully attacked on the 12th and the 15th. On the 12th bombs were dropped among a group of twenty aircraft at El Adem, causing considerable damage. On the 8th mechanised transport near Sidi Barrani, and on the 15th motor transport in Camp Halfaya was bombed. Barracks at Sollum and Derna were also attacked.
44. On the 15th-16th October enemy aircraft made an abortive raid on the escarpment South of Fuka, and two waves of bombers attempted an attack on Alexandria without success. This was repeated on the following day, but with what effect is not yet known.
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