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46. On the 24th January a Coastal Command Beaufort attacked the oil refinery at St. Nazaire, but was unable to observe results; another Beaufort at dusk on the 27th January made a reconnaissance of Brest, and dropped a para- chute mine which exploded near the Port Militaire. Efforts to see if the Hipper class cruiser was still in the dry dock at Brest were not successful.

Four Beauforts bombed the docks at Lorient on

on the night of the 24th/25th January with inconclusive results. On the following night sixteen heavy bombers attacked the Main Post Office and Telegraph Office at Hanover. The weather was clear and all bombs fell in the target area, starting numerous fires. Propaganda leaflets were also dropped.

47. On the night of the 29th/30th January fifteen Wellingtons and five Hampdens attacked the naval base, the dockyards and industrial targets at Wilhelmshaven. Many explosions and fires were observed to the south, east and south-west of the Bauhafen, and the Main Railway Station is believed to have been hit. Later aircraft reported that the fires appeared to be growing in intensity. Small fires only were reported from the industrial targets.

Italy.

48. Three Wellingtons from Malta attacked Capodichino aerodrome, at Naples, on the night of the 27th/28th January, and secured direct hits on buildings; two others bombed the Central Station, with its junction and goods yards. Successful attacks were also made during the week on Catania and Comino aerodromes in Sicily.

United Kingdom.

49. Fighter Command flew 155 patrols involving 351 sorties by day and one by night; hostile activity by day was reduced and consisted of a total of 155 aircraft, of which 95 were engaged on reconnaissances. Raids by single aircraft were plotted during daylight in a number of widely separated districts. No interception by our fighters was effected, but two enemy aircraft were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire. On five nights no bombing occurred, but, on the night of the 25th/26th, attacks were made on the South-Western Counties and, on the 29th/30th, on East London.

Coastal Reconnaissance, Patrols and Minelaying.

50. Aircraft of the Coastal Command were again badly hampered by weather conditions, but flew 133 patrols involving 373 sorties, of which 170 were convoy escorts. Routine patrols were carried out during the week off the Norwegian, German, Dutch, Belgian and French Coasts, and several attacks were made on enemy merchant shipping and trawlers, with inconclusive results. Other offensive operations by Coastal Command aircraft have already been described.

51. A Sunderland engaged a Condor on the 29th January 117 miles west of Achill Head and each was damaged; during the period a number of other inconclusive fights took place. One Hudson is missing and another landed at Sligo through shortage of fuel. Photographic reconnaissances were successful in the Bergen, Stavanger, Kiel, Wilhelmshaven, Brest, Morlaix and Finisterre areas, but many attempts had to be abandoned through bad visibility.

52. Enemy coastal aircraft were extremely inactive, but the long-range Condor unit maintained its offensive patrols over the Atlantic.

Malta.

53. Only one attack was made on Malta, when a single aircraft dropped bombs at Luqa aerodrome, hitting a building and causing some casualties. An Italian seaplane landed off Comino Island at night and was captured, the crew having mistaken Malta for their base.

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