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54. In addition, a Hampden scored a hit on a tanker in the mouth of the Ems. Hurricane bombers hit a 300-ton trawler off Fécamp and set another small vessel on fire, and Spitfires attacked four small ships off Havre, leaving one of them listing heavily.

55. Eight Hampdens laid mines off the Frisian Islands in daylight.

56.

The enemy made only one attack on shipping during the week. They laid mines off the East Coast on two nights of the week.

Central Mediterranean.

57. Wellingtons made two heavy attacks of over five hours' duration on Naples, and dropped a total of nearly 40 tons of H.E. bombs and incendiaries. A 4,000-lb. bomb burst in the torpedo factory and started a fire, which increased in intensity and was still burning when the last aircraft had left the target. Many hits were made on the Arsenal, on the I.M.A.M. airframe factory and in the dock and railway areas.

58. Four Blenheims attacked the railway sidings at San Giovanni, where a train of 24 petrol tankers was completely burnt out. Shipping was also bombed and machine-gunned. Beaufighters, patrolling in the vicinity of Pantellaria aerodrome to cover the arrival of delivery aircraft, shot down an Italian bomber.

59. Night attacks were made on Malta on several nights of the week by formations of between 10 and 20 Ju. 88's operating from Sicily and probably belonging to a German night-fighter unit. Some minor damage and a few casualties were caused at Halfar aerodrome. Enemy daylight activity was negligible.

Libya.

Day Bomber Operations.

60. Daylight bombing was maintained by Blenheims and Marylands on a heavy scale, except on the 5th and 10th, when severe sand and dust storms prevented operations. During the earlier part of the period their attacks were directed against enemy tanks and transport in the Sidi Rezegh, El Adem and Acroma areas. On the Sidi Rezegh-Capuzzo road large fires and explosions were caused among about 700 vehicles, and in the El Adem area where five squadrons, with fighter escort, operated on the 6th, bombs were seen to fall among tanks and tank carriers which were loading at the time. A large building used as an A.A. post was demolished. Later in the week, with the object of dislocating traffic moving westward from the battle area, further attacks were made on M.T. near Acroma; a tank and many vehicles were destroyed and an extensive fire broke out. Hurricane bombers took part in these attacks, and destroyed 11 vehicles.

61. The aerodrome at Derna was twice attacked by a squadron of Marylands which destroyed at least ten aircraft on the ground, and shot down an Italian fighter. Two squadrons made individual attacks on Tmimi landing ground, where bombs fell among dispersed aircraft, and fires were started among M.T.

62.

Ships and stores at Bardia were also attacked, and a small merchant ship was probably sunk off Derna. A successful low-level attack was made on the barracks at Homs, in Western Libya, by Blenheims from Malta.

Night Bomber Operations.

63.

Wellingtons followed up these daylight attacks with heavy raids by night. On the 3rd-4th and following night a total of 72 tons of bombs was dropped on troops and transport in the El Adem area, and many violent explosions and petrol fires resulted. Weather prevented operations on the night of the 5th-6th, but on the two subsequent nights strong forces attacked the El Adem-Acroma-Gazala road, starting large fires in a bottle-neck near Gazala. Derna aerodrome and M.T. on nearby roads were attacked on the night of the 8th-9th and following night. Naval Albacores released delayed-action bombs on the dock area of Bardia, where a supply ship was reported to be unloading. Thirty-six tons of bombs were dropped by Wellingtons from Malta on stores depots west of Tripoli (L.). At least six large buildings were destroyed and many fires broke out, which merged into a large blaze visible from 80 miles away.

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