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were reported during the week; one off Milford Haven and another off the Shetlands by day, one at dusk off Spurn Head and the fourth by a F.W. 200 off Portugal.

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Mediterranean,

Cyrenaica.

59. Marylands, Blenheims, and Hurricane bombers operated in close support of our ground forces, though on some days their activities were curtailed by sand storms and unfavourable weather conditions. Concentrations of enemy M.T. near El Tmimi were bombed and attacks were made on motor vehicles on the Bomba- Derna road and on the road north of El Tmimi; many direct hits were observed. An attack, carried out by six Bostons in poor weather, was intercepted by 12 Me. 109s, and five Bostons failed to return and the sixth was badly damaged.

60. By the 16th December there was a considerable movement of enemy M.T. to the north-west of El Tmimi in the direction of Derna and beyond; repeated air attacks were carried out, and concentrations of vehicles in the Mekili area were bombed, many vehicles being hit and set on fire.

Reconnaissance disclosed a congestion of aircraft on the aerodromes in the Benghazi area, doubtless due to the fact that the enemy has lost at least six aerodromes since the campaign started. Marylands attacked Binina aerodrome and destroyed two large aircraft and started some fires, and on the 17th December the landing ground at Barce was bombed and fifteen Ju. 52s were destroyed.

61. Fighters carried out continuous defensive and offensive patrols and provided escorts for bombers. During the earlier part of the week these patrols were largely over the Tobruk-El Gazala area. Many successful engagements were fought.

62. On the 11th December 24 Ju. 88s, with an escort of 10 Me. 109s, made an attack on the Tobruk area; they were intercepted by a patrol of Tomahawks which shot down two of the bombers and two of the escorting fighters; the same patrol then attacked six Me. 109s, three of which they destroyed. One Tomahawk was shot down.

On the two following days our fighters, whilst carrying out offensive sweeps and escorts, shot down 20 enemy aircraft and probably destroyed eight others, against our loss of 12 fighters. On the 15th and 16th December only two enemy aircraft were sighted, one of which was shot down.

63. The difficulties of supply by sea forced the Germans to rely largely on air transport, and on the 11th and 12th December an effort was made to intercept the Ju. 52s flying between Crete and Derna, as a result of which Marylands and Beaufighters destroyed 7, and damaged 13 others; 5 Marylands are missing.

64. Hurricanes operating from forward landing grounds made a series of attacks on enemy transport vehicles on the road between Ghemines (37 miles south of Benghazi) and El Agheila. During these attacks 173 vehicles, including 12 petrol tankers, were damaged or destroyed, and numerous casualties were inflicted.

65. On two nights a total of 35 Wellingtons successfully attacked Derna town and aerodrome. Two night raids were also made on Benghazi harbour by a total of 14 Wellingtons from Malta. Hits were seen on buildings near the harbour, in the centre of the town and at the base of the outer mole. During one of the attacks the harbour was mined by four further Wellingtons.

66. Enemy air operations continued on an intensive scale but the activity of dive-bomber units noticeably decreased. This may have been partly due to losses inflicted by our air forces on these units during the previous week and partly to supply difficulties. The reduced activity of dive-bomber units was counterbalanced to some extent by an increased activity of Ju. 88 bombers. These concentrated mainly on front-line targets and there was a noticeable absence of attacks on back areas and communications.

German single-engined fighter units have been employed to the utmost. In the course of engagements with our fighters many Me. 109s have been shot down, but generally speaking, the German single-engined fighters have been handled well.

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