Page 115

14

Air Intelligence.

83. The main concentration of Axis aircraft is in the Benghazi area, which is probably congested.

84. The effect of the strained Axis supply situation should become apparent within the next few days, in spite of the liberal employment of Ju. 52 transport aircraft to improve matters.

85. The following reinforcements have reached Libya since our offensive started:

(a) German. About 25 Ju. 88's were sent to Cyrenaica from Greece at the beginning of the offensive, but have since returned to Athens, probably owing to shortage of fuel at Benghazi.

Some 25 Me. 110's were brought from Crete and Sicily to Cyrenaica, but the majority of these have been lost and not replaced.

Fifteen Ju. 87's came from Crete. No reinforcements of Me. 109's have been received, but some are probably coming.

Two to three hundred Ju. 52 transport aircraft from Russia and Eastern Germany are now being employed in the Libyan campaign. (b) Italian.-Replacements for the existing squadrons in Cyrenaica are not being regularly received, but reinforcements by new units comprising 70 aircraft of all types have arrived.

It is believed that 25 Italian Ju. 87's have reached Tripolitania and that some of them may have moved forward to Cyrenaica.

East Africa.

86. Our bombers and fighters flew 95 sorties during the week in support of land operations in the Gondar area. On the 21st, during operations which culminated in the capture of Feroaber and Kulkaber, 54 sorties were flown, which included attacks on trenches and machine-gun posts.

Aden.

87. Patrols and reconnaissances were flown along the French Somaliland frontier and over Jibuti, on which leaflets were also dropped. On the 22nd three Vincents, escorted by two Blenheims, transported a party to carry out the demolition of two forts under the terms of an ultimatum accepted by a Beihan chieftain.

Russia.

Air Operations.

88.

No reports have been received.

General.

89.

HOME SECURITY SITUATION.

Although bombs were dropped on five days and six nights of the week, the total number of incidents was very small.

Damage.

90. Very little damage, none of which was important, has been reported.

Casualties.

91. Estimated civilian casualties for the week ending 0600 Wednesday, 26th November, are 7 killed and 25 seriously injured.

Page 115

Page 115

Page 115

APPENDICES I and II will be published monthly.

Page 115Page 116

Share This Page