CAB80-25 — Page 215

Page 215

Page 215

attacked from this country, and objectives in Sicily have been attacked from Malta. Fighter Command flew a number of offensive patrols both by day and by night over the Straits and Northern France.

Enemy attacks on this country were on the same scale as in the previous week. The heaviest was on the night of the 9th/10th January, when 300 aircraft were employed. It was widespread and did not appear to be aimed at any particular objective.

In Libya, our aircraft have made several heavy attacks on Tobruk and Benghasi and on the aerodromes at Benina and Berka.

Operational aircraft casualties and extracts from recent Raid Assessment Reports are given in Appendices VI and VII.

Germany and Occupied Territory.

34. Bomber Command flew 45 day and 425 night sorties during this period, an increase on the previous week of 162 sorties. Weather conditions caused all operations to be cancelled on one night, and on two nights the number of sorties were severely restricted. Although the weather improved on other nights, enabling our aircraft to operate, conditions were by no means favourable for bombing operations.

35. There have been a number of attacks on oil targets. On the night of the 9th/10th January one hundred and thirty-five aircraft were despatched to attack the Nordstern Oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen. Many aircraft were, however, unable to locate their primary target under the prevailing weather conditions and were forced to attack alternative targets. Ground haze over Gelsenkirchen precluded accurate observation of results, but many bursts amongst factory buildings and on a railway in the vicinity were reported. Numerous fires and explosions were also observed.

36. On the night of the 9th/10th January twenty-two aircraft bombed the oil storage tanks at Rotterdam and a number of large fires were seen. Again, on the night of the 12th/13th January aircraft attacked the oil refineries at Regensburg, but results were difficult to observe.

37. On two nights the dockyard and naval base at Wilhelmshaven were subjected to heavy attacks. On the first occasion, although bombs were dropped in the target area, results were generally unobserved. The attack on the second night was, however, very successful, numerous and very large fires resulting. The whole of an area covering approximately 1 miles by 800 yards was reported a blazing mass. Other large fires and heavy explosions were observed in the vicinity.

38. Determined efforts have been made during the week to inflict further damage on the "Hipper" class cruiser lying in dry dock at Brest. On five nights a total of 85 aircraft were despatched with this target as their principal objective, and, over this period, four direct hits on the cruiser are reported. In addition, considerable damage was done to warehouses and buildings in the dock area and widespread fires were observed.

39. Lorient was attacked on two successive nights by Beauforts of Coastal Command. On each occasion bombs and land mines were dropped. Bursts were observed on a large block of buildings, and one mine was seen to burst near the Power Station or Ordnance Works, which caused an enormous explosion. A pillar of black smoke up to a height of 10,000 feet was reported. A second miñe burst close to two vessels and others are estimated to have fallen within the target area. On other nights attacks on a lighter scale were made on Lorient, Havre, Dunkirk, Boulogne, Čalais, Ostend, Flushing and Rotterdam.

40. On the night of the 14th/15th six Hudsons were despatched to attack air bases at Stavanger. The aerodromes at Mandel and Forus were successfully attacked, and two hits were obtained on a 5,000-ton merchant vessel in Stavanger Roads. Bombs were also dropped near a railway bridge in the vicinity of Egersund.

41. During the week a number of attacks on shipping, barges, harbours and troops have been made by the cloud-flying Blenheims. In addition, a formation of Blenheims, with a large fighter escort, carried out a day attack on the landing

Page 215

Page 215

Page 215Page 216