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Tripolitania.

67. Castel Benito aerodrome and M.T. in the Zuara area were attacked by aircraft from Malta. At Castel Benito three aircraft on the ground were destroyed and large fires were caused among the hangars. Two buildings and two petrol tankers were destroyed in the Zuara area.

Italy and Sicily.

68. On the night of the 15th/16th December and on the following night, a total of 32 Wellingtons attacked naval shipping at Taranto; hits were made in the target area and considerable damage was caused to naval buildings and stores, but an effective smoke screen prevented detailed observation. In an attack on Catania harbour one merchant vessel of 6,000 tons was set on fire and one or two hits were made on another ship of 5,000 tons. Naval Swordfish are believed to have sunk off Kelibia in Tunis a tanker of 4,000 tons in a night attack.

A day attack was also made on the aerodrome at Comiso (Sicily), and a munition factory at Cotrone was hit twice.

Malta.

69. Enemy night fighter Ju. 88s operating from Sicily have attacked Malta by night, but although some of the raids continued for many hours, the number of aircraft operating has not been large and little damage has been caused.

Greece and Crete.

70. Wellingtons attacked Patras at night and dropped 17 tons of bombs: the quayside buildings were demolished, and it is believed that a 12,000-ton liner was hit, as much smoke was observed coming from her stern.

In daylight Blenheims carried out four attacks on shipping at Argostoli; one merchant vessel of 5,000 tons was possibly hit, but intense A.A. fire was encountered and four Blenheims are missing.

On the night 11th/12th December 20 Wellingtons bombed Maleme, obtaining a direct hit on a petrol dump and causing a number of large fires and explosions.

Russia.

German Air Force Operations.

71.

The German Air Force appears to have had little effect in holding up the Russian advances on almost all sectors of the front, but there is little indica- tion as to the air operations which have been carried out. It is thought probable, however, that close support units which were at very advanced bases in the Klin Kalinin sector have been forced to withdraw in face of Russian progress in this area. On the whole of the Central Front German Air Force supplies generally are believed to be adequate to meet the present requirements of the reduced air forces in this area.

72. In the south, Russian pressure appears to be heaviest in the Donetz Basin, but the commitments of the German Air Force in support of the Crimea operations and the line at present held along the River Mius to the north of Taganrog seem to preclude the possibility of an adequate air force to cover operations further north. The supply situation in the whole of this area east of the Dnieper bend is thought for some time to have been acute, and probably accounts for the failure hitherto to maintain air operations on an intensive scale.

The Far East.

Burma.

73.

On the 11th, formations of 16 and 23 aircraft made two raids on our aerodrome at Tavoy, 225 miles S.E. of Rangoon. The aerodrome at Victoria was evacuated on the 13th (it is believed that demolition was previously completed). On the 13th, a total of 33 aircraft attacked the aerodrome and harbour at Mergui; a W/T post, petrol dump and barracks were hit. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed.

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