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Malta.
100. Enemy air raids have been fairly continuous, but not in great force, and the only serious damage done has been to the floating-dock, which was sunk. Several civilian casualties have occurred. One three-engined bomber and one Macchi fighter have been shot down.
France.
Reliable information has been received that the following modern French aircraft have been evacuated from France to North Africa, with some 1,650 personnel :-
78 Glenn Martin.
39 Douglas D.B. 7.
12 Farman 222.
125 Dewoitine 520. 125 Curtiss 75A. 225 Bloch 152.
German Air Force.
Operations.
102. The operational activity of the German Air Force was on a fairly high level at the beginning of the week, when considerable numbers of aircraft were engaged in day and night raids on the Western French ports and on shipping leaving them. Since the 21st there has been a very sharp drop in activity, and it is probable that units are being rested in order to consolidate and to regain a high proportion of serviceability. Raids have been directed against objectives in England on four nights during the week, but the numbers of aircraft involved have never exceeded eighty, and have been drawn only from four of the German bomber units.
Transport aircraft continue to show considerable activity.
Intelligence.
103. The fighter defences of the occupied areas in France are being reorganised, and definite areas have been allotted to various fighter units. The main areas are as follows :
(1) The Brest Peninsula westward of Rennes and St. Malo, with
Headquarters at Rennes. (2) The Cherbourg Peninsula and the West of Normandy, with Headquarters
at Caen,
(3) An area at the mouth of the Seine bounded by a line Deauville--Evreux-
Rouen. (4) The coastal area of Northern France from the Somme to the Scheldt. There are two units in this area, based on St. Inglevert and St. Omer. 104. There is some evidence that the Me. 110, and possibly the Me. 109, might be used as bombers in attacks on this country. The former could be fairly easily converted for the purpose, and although the Me. 109 could take only light bombs, carried externally, it might be possible to use it with effect for low-bombing raids against aerodromes and other ground targets. The speed of both types would make them hard to intercept, and they would be difficult targets for anti- aircraft fire.
105. German losses from the 10th May to the 25th June, inclusive, amount to 2,192 confirmed and 882 unconfirmed. It is estimated that a further 210 enemy aircraft have been seriously damaged.
Italian Air Force.
106. Italian air operations and the apparent failure of the Italian air effort in East Africa have already been noted.
107. There is no information of any change in the location of units in Metropolitan Italy. The concentration in Sicily remains, and it is fairly certain
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