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38. The very successful attack on
Bremen on the night of the 1st/2nd January, reported in last week's Résumé, was continued on two successive nights. In addition to high explosive bombs many thousands of incendiaries were dropped. The dock area, railway station and factories were attacked, culminating in the whole target becoming a mass of flames. Two of our aircraft were missing as a result of these operations.
39. On the 4th January eighteen Blenheims from Coastal Command were despatched to attack a "Hipper class cruiser in dry dock at Brest. One aircraft estimated a direct hit on the cruiser, and hits were also reported on two destroyers and a small merchant vessel. This attack was continued at night by aircraft of Bomber Command. Unfortunately, the weather was so unfavourable that it was not possible to identify the cruiser, but the estimated position was bombed by forty heavy bombers and a large fire resulted. The next day Blenheims again returned to the attack and some direct hits are believed to have been obtained. During these daylight attacks enemy fighter opposition was encountered as a result of which two Me. 109's were destroyed and one probably destroyed. Several Blenheims sustained damage, but only one was reported missing.
40. Wilhelmshaven was the main objective on the night of the 8th/9th January and visibility was good over the target area. Twenty heavy bombers concentrated on the shipbuilding yards and many large and small fires were started. The dock area was also bombed and the Tirpitz is believed to have been straddled by a stick of 500 lb. bombs. Thirteen other aircraft attacked the Docks at Emden where two very large fires were observed.
41. Light attacks were made on oil targets at Hamburg and Rotterdam and on the petroleum sheds at Emden. A.A. batteries were also bombed on a number of occasions.
42. On two nights Blenheims of the Fighter Command carried out offensive patrols over aerodromes in Northern France. Only one combat occurred and the enemy aircraft is believed to have crashed. These Blenheims subsequently bombed several enemy aerodromes with good results.
43. A successful day attack was made by a Blenheim on a 5,000-ton Tanker off the Hook of Holland, when a direct hit was obtained on the vessel's bow. A Blenheim also scored near misses on another Tanker in the same area.
44. Coastal Command aircraft made several successful attacks on shipping Six direct hits were made on a merchant vessel near Obrestad, and three hits on another vessel near Lister Light. One ship of over 1,000 tons was attacked near Bergen and lifted out of the water. Another smaller vessel sustained damage to her bridge and superstructure.
45. On two successive days individual attacks were made by two Beauforts on an 8,000-ton Tanker in the Bay of Biscay. Near misses were reported and the bridge was attacked with machine-gun fire.
Italy.
46. On the night of the 8th/9th January ten Wellingtons from Malta successfully attacked shipping, docks and railway communications at Naples. One stick of bombs was observed to drop on or very near the stern of a Littorio class battleship. Several hits were also registered on buildings near the Angloini Quay, and on the railway station and tracks. There were several explosions and a gasometer was fired. At Palermo, which was attacked by one aircraft, a hit was registered either on the middle jetty or on a ship moored alongside. All our aircraft returned undamaged from these operations.
United Kingdom.
47. Fighter Command flew 426 patrols involving 1,086 sorties by day and 184 patrols involving 197 sorties by night. These totals are slightly higher than those of last week.
48. The scale of operations of the German Air Force during the week under review, although approximately double that of the previous week, was still at a low level. Reconnaissance was the chief daylight activity and this was
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