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Fighter Operations.
Our Hurricanes and Tomahawks patrolled the battle area, and inter- cepted many formations of Ju. 87s, escorted by German and Italian fighters, often forcing them to jettison their bombs. In the course of two days, the 4th and the 5th, 22 Ju 87s and 12 fighters were destroyed, 15 aircraft probably destroyed and 20 damaged; our losses were 11 fighters, with at least three pilots safe.
65. Hurricanes made several low-flying attacks in the Jedabya area, destroying four and damaging at least six aircraft. On the Jedabya-El Agheila road two staff cars, three road tankers and three large vehicles were also destroyed, and 26 vehicles were damaged. Beaufighters and Blenheim fighters inflicted heavy damage on transport in the Marawa and Derna areas.
Enemy Activity.
66. The principal feature of the enemy's operations has been the high scale of effort reached by dive bombers and single-engined fighters, which have been intensively engaged during the week. Twelve German fighters attacked three of our landing grounds in the Maddalena area, causing a few casualties. They also shot down an empty ambulance aircraft which was taking off, and damaged a transport aircraft.
The Far East.
Malaya.
67. Heavy enemy air attacks were made on our aerodromes in Northern Malaya, where the enemy appears to have air superiority. Several of our fighters were destroyed on the ground, and we have withdrawn from the aerodromes at Alor Star, Kota Bahru, Sungei Patani and Kuantan.
68. Singapore was attacked by enemy aircraft on the 7th and 9th December. Penang was bombed three times on the 10th, but little damage was done.
69. On the night the 7th/8th, our aircraft attacked Japanese ships off the northern coast of Malaya, two of which were set on fire. On the 9th, eleven Blenheims bombed Singora aerodrome, where 40 bombers were seen on the ground. The results of the attack were unobserved.
70. Nine of our aircraft are reported missing, and five Japanese aircraft were shot down over Northern Malaya.
Hong Kong.
71. The enemy has made spasmodic air raids on Kowloon and the aerodrome at Kai Tak, and on the south coast of Hong Kong Island. Some casualties were inflicted on civilians and a lesser number on military personnel.
Russia.
72. Intensive operations by the Russian Air Force have accompanied the Russian successes and provide further evidence of the present German fighter weakness in Russia, due to withdrawals of units to Germany for refitting or for employment elsewhere. It is also likely that the intense cold recently experienced in Russia may have affected the servicing and operational readiness of aircraft to some extent, although this consideration does not appear to apply to the Russians, owing to their greater familiarity with operations under such condi- tions, and to the fact that their own aerodromes have not been within the battle
zones.
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