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unidentified aircraft were seen during the night of the 29th February. On the night of the 2nd March one of three flak ships which opened fire 8 miles north. of Spickeroog was attacked with six 250-lb. bombs; no hits were claimed. It was reported by the Hampdens which performed the patrol on the night of the 1st March that there was ice round the Frisian Islands, that Kiel was frozen over and that the Elbe was frozen for 20 miles up-river except for the navigation channel.

Leaflet Operations over Germany by Aircraft or Balloons up to February 29.

September, 1939

20,250,000

32.

October

""

5,360,000

November

4,027,000

"

December

""

2,164,500

January,

1940

6,138,500

February

8,065,750

These include copies of a min- iature newspaper equivalent in size to two single leaflets.

(up to Feb. 29)

46,005,750

Fighter Command.

33. German aircraft made several attacks on shipping during the week, as reported in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Naval Situation. With one exception attacks took place at night or at dawn and dusk, and have been timed to prevent interception by our fighters. Fighters were despatched on each of the attacks, but on only one occasion did a Spitfire gain brief contact with an enemy aircraft before it disappeared in the darkness.

A total of 1,319 aircraft sorties were despatched during the week.

Coastal Command.

34. This Command continued its normal activities without interruption during the week.

An attack on an enemy submarine was made on the 2nd March; bombs were dropped, but no success is claimed. A further attack on the 4th March is referred to under Bomber Command.

On the 29th February, aircraft of the Command again visited the Josing Fjord, where the Altmark was still apparently immobile, with Norwegian destroyers standing by.

On the 2nd March, aircraft co-operated in the rescue of the passengers and crew from the S.S. Domala.

A search for the suspected Dutch ship Noordwyk on the 3rd March succeeded in locating her off the Channel Islands.

On the 1st March, two enemy flak ships were seen 25 miles north-west of Horn Reefs, and opened heavy pom-pom fire on our aircraft. Two 250-lb. bombs were released and fell some 40 yards wide and three machine-gun attacks were then made on one of the vessels from 800 feet. Bullets were seen to strike the deck and bridge.

Operations in France.

British Air Forces in France.

35. Fighter squadrons of the Air Striking Force have been active during the week. Sixty-two patrols involving 114 aircraft have been sent out, and three enemy aircraft have been shot down and another damaged.

On the 2nd March, a Dornier 17 was intercepted by three Hurricanes of No. 1 Squadron and was brought down in France. Two of the crew were captured. Two of our aircraft were damaged and one of the pilots was killed in a forced landing. On the same day, two Hurricanes of No. 73 Squadron pursued seven Heinkel 111 across the German frontier, and were then attacked by a party of five or six Messerschmidt 109. Both of our aircraft were damaged and force-landed, but without injury to the pilots. One of the Messerschmidts was shot down in flames and another was seen to be damaged.

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