CAB80-13 — Page 256

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Page 256

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and that a fighter was shot down. Massawa, Assab and Gura were bombed on the 17th June, and a very successful attack was made on the wireless station at Raheita on the night of the 17th/18th June. A submarine was seen by our fighters 30 miles off Aden, which called for bomber assistance before attacking; the submarine was bombed by a Blenheim as it crash-dived, and was machine- gunned by the fighters; the result is uncertain.

52. Kenya. The South African and Southern Rhodesian squadrons continue to be very active. Raids have been carried out on aerodromes at Kismayu, Yavello, Neghelli, on a camp at Mega and on armoured cars and troops near Moyale. It is believed that about a dozen enemy aircraft have been destroyed on the ground, two armoured cars have been wrecked and substantial damage done to hangars and to a wireless station. There have been a few enemy raids, in one of which (on the 13th June) bombs dropped by a single aircraft hit and destroyed a store of aviation petrol at Wajir. Two of our aircraft are missing.

53. Malta. Enemy raids continue, generally in small numbers, and have a considerable harassing effect, though little material damage has been done. Two enemy Three Heinkel 111s were identified as taking part in one raid. aircraft are believed to have been brought down by anti-aircraft fire, and Gladiators have been useful in harrying the raiders.

French Air Force Operations.

54. No details of French Air Force operations during the period of this summary are available.

German Air Operations.

55. There has been a slight reduction in the general scale of operations during the week, as compared with the level of the past five weeks. On the average, about eight of the long-range bomber units were active each day, with about 20 per cent. of their strength; this would mean that there were normally something over two hundred long-range bombers engaged. Operations have been mainly directed to support of the offensive in the West, although some bombing of naval units near Tromso is reported on the 13th June. Some units have now been withdrawn from Norway. Toward the end of the week activity was transferred to the ports in the North and West of France, and widespread raids were made on England during the night of the 18th/19th and the 19th 20th June. A considerable part of the Air Force has now been moved to forward aerodromes in Belgium and Northern France.

German Air Intelligence.

56. There has been a decrease in advanced training during the past week, and aircraft previously employed in schools are now in use for transport purposes. This may, in itself, serve as a kind of advanced training. During the week from the 11th to 18th June there were ninety-nine confirmed losses of German aircraft and the total may be put at about 120. This brings the corresponding totals since the 10th May to 2,137 and 3,205. There continue to be indications that Germany is not, at present, willing to release any aircraft for export abroad. Difficulty in securing delivery of aircraft promised has been experienced by Jugoslavia, Roumania, Bulgaria and Esthonia.

57. An analysis of German Air Operations against France since the 10th May and further notes on Air Landing tactics are included as Appendix IV.

Italian Air Operations.

58. Details of Italian air operations have been included in the appropriate sections. Operations by the Italian Air Force have not so far been very persistent or well concerted, though a considerable number of raids have been carried out throughout the Middle Eastern area. The raids on Malta in particular appear to have been surprisingly ineffective, even though some German bombers have

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