Page 217
Page 217
10
54. Mines were laid by aircraft of Bomber and Coastal Commands off Kiel, Dieppe, Lorient, Brest, St. Nazaire, in the Jade, Weser and Ems rivers, Fehmarn Hubert Gat, Fehrmann Channel and Elbe Estuary.
55. There have been a number of attacks on enemy shipping. On the 9th January a Hudson on patrol off Egersund Fjord bombed a 5,000 ton merchant vessel, but results could not be observed. A second Hudson on the same patrol bombed a railway bridge over a river near Egersund, as a result of which one span appeared to collapse.
56. On the 12th January two Blenheims on patrol off Bergen attacked a 4,000 ton merchant vessel which is believed to have been set on fire. On the same day two Beauforts off Holland attacked a 4,600 ton merchant vessel securing one hit on the stern with a 250 lb. bomb.
57. About 160 enemy aircraft were employed in minelaying, and numerous reconnaissances were carried out over a very
wide area.
Greece and Albania.
58. Bad weather has again greatly restricted our operations. Only two raids were carried out, both under very difficult conditions.
59. An Italian column retreating from Kelcyre to Berat was bombed on the 10th January, and Berat was bombed on the 13th where, it is believed, a road bridge was hit. Several reconnaissances of the south-eastern section of the Ionian sea were flown by our Sunderlands.
60. On the 11th January two enemy fighters made a machine-gun attack on the aerodrome at Heraklion (Crete) and damaged one of our aircraft.
Egypt and Libya.
61. Constant and heavy pressure has been maintained on Tobruk, whilst aerodromes likely to assist in the defence of the position have been made untenable by the attacks of our aircraft. Reports of abandoned aircraft and landing grounds indicate that the enemy has withdrawn his air forces to the Benghasi area.
62. Benghasi was heavily attacked five times. Hits were registered on five large ships in the harbour, on the mole and on Government buildings. The neighbouring aerodromes of Benina and Berka were also successfully attacked, and much damage was caused to aerodrome buildings, hangars and aircraft on the ground. At Benina, at least twelve enemy aircraft were set on fire.
63. On the 8th January there was a very successful bombing attack on a convoy of motor transport near Jerabub by Blenheims, followed by a machine-gun attack by Hurricanes, as a result of which the convoy was abandoned.
64. Our fighters were also very active. They maintained offensive patrols in the Tobruk and other areas, and destroyed several enemy aircraft both in the air and on the ground.
65. Several reconnaissances of the Libyan coast were flown by our Sunderlands.
66. Enemy aircraft activity was slight. An attack was made on our troops in the Tobruk area, but little damage was caused.
Gibraltar.
67. The usual anti-submarine patrols and reconnaissances were flown, including one reconnaissance of Casablanca.
Malta.
68. During the week reconnaissances were made of several harbours and aerodromes in Italy and Sicily and of portions of the Ionian Sea.
Page 217
Page 217
Page 217