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Sudan, Aden and East Africa.
45. During the period under review aerodromes at Gura and Asmara were repeatedly attacked with considerable success by our bombers from Kenya. Battles of the South African Air Force scored direct hits on an aerodrome building at Neghelli and upon a concentration of mechanised transport. Military buildings at Diredawa and Assab also received direct hits and a large fire was started at one of the piers at the latter place by Blenheims of the Indian Wing operating from the Sudan. Mai Adaga was bombed on two days.
46. During the 12th and 13th October the enemy made three unsuccessful attacks on Perim Island, and on the 13th a single aircraft attacked Aden and is believed to have been damaged by one of our Gladiators. In Kenya, Wajir and Lodwar, near Lake Rudolph, were each attacked by three enemy aircraft on the 10th, but no damage resulted. On the 16th October enemy aircraft attacked Gedaref aerodrome in the Sudan, and destroyed eight Wellesleys and two Vincents on the ground. A single enemy aircraft also bombed troop positions South of Kassala, but without inflicting damage or casualties.
47. Ineffective air attacks were made on British naval units in the Red Sea on the 14th October, and an attack on a convoy was driven off by an escorting Blenheim fighter from Aden, one enemy aircraft probably being destroyed. On the following day an enemy aircraft dived into the sea after an unsuccessful attack on H.M.A.S. Parametta.
Air Intelligence.
Italy.
48. Beyond the report, mentioned last week, that German transport aircraft were in Southern Italy, no reliable reports have been received of any German aircraft in Italy.
49. It is reliably reported that the call for volunteers from Italy for the German Air Force has met with such poor response that the Italian authorities have been compelled to detail the personnel required for service in Germany.
Hungary.
50. An unconfirmed report states that 50 Hungarian pilots have gone to serve in Germany and that another 50 may be going shortly.
Roumania.
51. At the same time that the German A.A. artillery groups were installed at Ploesti, reports were received that a number of the aerodromes in the vicinity would shortly be occupied by units of the German Air Force. The chief of these are Floresti, Branesti, Baneasa, and Bacau, all of which are suitable for the location of fighter aircraft for the defence of the oil regions. The Roumanians had previously placed four fighter squadrons at Floresti and two at Branesti for this purpose.
There are indications that the Germans are contemplating a much more comprehensive plan for the protection of the oil wells from possible air attack, by having a forward line of air defences in Bulgaria combined with a system of observation and listening posts.
52. The German Military Attaché at Bucharest is reported to have stated that a Luft Division (which may consist of anything up to 360 bombers, 240 fighters and some dive-bombers) would arrive in Roumania on the 13th October under the command of General Speidel. This may be an exaggeration, but General Speidel, accompanied by four staff officers, arrived at Bucharest by air on the 12th October and was received with ceremony.
53. Large German transport aircraft are reported to have been arriving at Floresti aerodrome and leaving with loads of petrol. It is possible that they are taking the petrol to form fuel dumps in Hungary and Transylvania for the advancing German forces.
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