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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTVS GOVERNMENT SECRET
n
-
Copy No,
W.P. (42) 227
(Also C.O.S. (42) 283)
May 28, 1942
TOJBE
KEPT
UNDER
LOCK A N D K E Y .
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
WAR
CABINET
WEEKLY RESUME (No. 143) of the NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 0700 May 21st, to 0700 May 28th, 1942 [Circulated with the approval of
the Chiefs of Staff.]
Cabinet
War
Room.
N A V A L SITUATION. General Review.
1. A convoy to Russia has been repeatedly a t t a c k e d by a i r c r a f t and
U-boats, which caused some casualties. "Elsewhere s h i p p i n g losses , reported
have been less t h a n of late.
Home Waters.
2. On the 27th ELM. Minesweeper Fitzroy was mined a n d sunk 40 miles
north-east of G r e a t Y a r m o u t h . Seven officers and 97 r a t i n g s were rescued.
Northern Waters.
3. D u r i n g the week convoys to and from Russia have been covered by the
Home Fleet. D u r i n g the evening of the 25th the outward-bound convoy, consisting
of 35 ships, was a t t a c k e d by over 30 torpedo and dive bombers. One ship, the
U.S.A. Carlton (5,127 tons), was slightly d a m a g e d a n d taken in tow. One enemy
a i r c r a f t and possibly four others were destroyed. Subsequently this convoy was
frequently attacked by aircraft and to a lesser degree by U-boats. U p to the
present it is known t h a t six ships have been sunk and several others damaged.
I n addition the Polish Destroyer Garland w a s damaged a n d h a d e i g h t killed
and 40 wounded.
Mediterranean.
4. I t is reported t h a t from the 1st A p r i l to the 13th M a y 26 enemy convoys,
seven of which were single escorted ships, have passed east of M a l t a .
Our
a i r c r a f t and submarines have made contact on five occasions, three of w h i c h were
successful.
D u r i n g the week 29,089 tons of F r e n c h merchant s h i p p i n g eastbound and
10,298 tons westbound have passed through the S t r a i t s of G i b r a l t a r u n d e r escort.
Madagascar.
5. H.M. Minesweeper Poole was damaged by a mine at Diego Suarez on
the 25th.
Anti-Submarine Operations.
6. T h i r t y attacks on U-boats, nine by surface craft a n d 21 by a i r c r a f t , have
been reported d u r i n g the week but in no case w a s there definite evidence of
destruction. Ten a t t a c k s have been c a r r i e d out in the N o r t h - W e s t e r n Approaches
and to the n o r t h of the Shetlands. Eleven a t t a c k s by U.S.A. ships a n d aircraft
in the W e s t e r n A t l a n t i c have been reported, and other a t t a c k s have been made in
the M e d i t e r r a n e a n , off the Norwegian coast, off Iceland (C) a n d south of the
Azores. P r o m i s i n g attacks by a i r c r a f t were carried o u t in the North-Western
Approaches and in the E a s t e r n M e d i t e r r a n e a n .
Enemy Intelligence.
7. T h e pocket battleship Lutzow has arrived in the N a r v i k area, where
she was located w i t h the Scheer and a number of destroyers on the 26th.
There is evidence t h a t a supply s h i p or r a i d e r sailed from a p o r t in the
Bay of Biscay early in the week.
U-boats.
8. Activity is m a i n t a i n e d in the Gulf of Mexico and between B e r m u d a and
New York. Since the introduction of U.S.A. coastal convoys there h a s been
little activity between Cape H a t t e r a s a n d the F l o r i d a S t r a i t s . A number of
U-boats have been o p e r a t i n g on the convoy route to Russia. I t a l i a n U-boats are
a g a i n reported off the north-east coast of Brazil.
Protection of Seaborne Trade.
9. D u r i n g the week ending the 27th May, 1,100 ships, including 284 Allied
and 20 N e u t r a l , have been convoyed. One a r m e d merchant cruiser, five anti­
a i r c r a f t ships, 69 destroyers (including four U n i t e d States a n d two Russian)
and 101 sloops, cutters a n d corvettes were employed on escort duties. D u r i n g
the week e n d i n g 24th M a y 121 ships in four ocean convoys a r r i v e d in home w a t e r s
without loss from enemy action.
I m p o r t s into the U n i t e d K i n g d o m by ships in convoy d u r i n g the week e n d i n g
23rd May totalled 652,001 tons compared w i t h 593,286 tons d u r i n g the previous
seven days and an a v e r a g e of 653,490 tons for the p a s t ten weeks. Of the week's
imports 102,318 tons were oil of various grades.
Enemy Attack on Seaborne Trade.
10. A p a r t from the a t t a c k s on the outward-bound R u s s i a n convoy, no reports
have been received of a n y s h i p s sunk by mines or a i r c r a f t d u r i n g the period.
Eighteen ships, including three tankers, have been a t t a c k e d by U-boats; of these
seven are known to have been sunk. T w o ships, including the R . F . A . Montenol,
were sunk in the Azores a r e a in an outward-bound convoy to Freetown, two ships
were attacked off the U.S. E a s t e r n seaboard and 14 in the Caribbean a n d Gulf
of Mexico.
British Minelaying.
11. D u r i n g the week mines have been laid by surface c r a f t off the Flemish
coast. M i n e l a y i n g by a i r c r a f t , somewhat restricted by adverse w e a t h e r conditions,
has been carried out in the Baltic, off the German N o r t h Sea coast and in t h e
Bay of Biscay.
Enemy Minelaying and British Minesweeping.
12. Enemy a i r c r a f t may have been minelaying in the Ffumber a r e a on one
night early in the w eek. N o E-boat activity has been reported. T w e n t y magnetic,
four acoustic a n d five moored mines have been destroyed d u r i n g the week off the
East Coast. T h e mine totals a r e 2,076 magnetic, 1,275 acoustic and 1,278 moored.
T
Enemy Merchant Shipping.
13. T h e D a n i s h Ninna (1,800 tons) is reported to have been mined a n d sunk
on the 23rd while on passage from S t r a l s u n d to Copenhagen w i t h a cargo of grain.
The G e r m a n Delos (2,589 tons) sailed from the Piraeus for Crete on the 20th.
MILITARY
SITUATION.
The Russo-German Campaign.
Finland.
. 14. T h e r e is no confirmation of a G e r m a n claim to have destroyed several
Russian divisions in L a p l a n d , although there h a s been continuous local fighting
in this area.
Leningrad
Sector.
15. Fierce local engagements have taken place in the a r e a south-east of
Lake Ilmen. but the general s i t u a t i o n is unchanged.
Ukraine.
16. T h e Russian offensive north-east a n d south of K h a r k o v h a s now
apparently been brought to a standstill by the weight of the G e r m a n counter­
attacks. South of K h a r k o v the R u s s i a n forces, which h a d earlier p e n e t r a t e d
west of tJhe Donets in the general direction of K r a s n o g r a d , a r e now t h r e a t e n e d
with encirclement owing to the success of the G e r m a n drive t o w a r d s Isyum
reported last week. G e r m a n forces a d v a n c i n g n o r t h w a r d s have now seized
several of the Donets crossings, a n d constitute a serious d a n g e r to the R u s s i a n
flank and rear. T h e s i t u a t i o n is still far from clear.
Crimea.
17. T h e whole of the K e r c h P e n i n s u l a is now in G e r m a n h a n d s . T h e figures
of Russian losses in this a r e a published m the official G e r m a n communiques a r e
very exaggerated.
4 a.
Summary.
18. The Donets battle has now assumed considerable proportions. I t cannot
be denied t h a t both here and on the K e r c h P e n i n s u l a the Germans have had
notable successes and they can be expected to exploit them to the full. On the
other hand, the R u s s i a n attack has undoubtedly forestalled G e r m a n p r e p a r a t i o n s
for a n offensive and has therefore compelled the Germans to throw in several
" spearhead " formations which they might have intended to reserve for use later.
Libya.
19. D u r i n g the week considerable movement was again observed behind the
enemy forward positions, p a r t i c u l a r l y on the coast road B o m b a - T m i m i , south­
west of Tmimi and in the area of R o t u n d a Segnali.
20. On the 26th May movement commenced e a s t w a r d s from R o t u n d a
Segnali. Four columns, including over 60 tanks, some armoured cars and over
200 M.T., probably all I t a l i a n , reached a line from south-east of El Cheima to a
point 15 miles south-east of R o t u n d a Segnali. A f u r t h e r enemy movement by
51 tanks, probably German, took place towards our m a i n position between
Gazala-el Ffamza. Much enemy activity was reported in the Segnali a r e a and
a column of enemy M.T. advanced n o r t h - e a s t w a r d on a broad front from that
place. On the 27th it was reported t h a t 250 tanks, thought to be German, after
making a night approach march, were being engaged by our armoured forces
between B i r H a k e i m and El Gobi. . T h e enemy approached from south of Bir
H a k e i m . A t the same time the enemy was c a r r y i n g out an a p p a r e n t demonstration
on our front near Gazala. Our troops in B i r H a k e i m itself were attacked by
I t a l i a n t a n k s and claim to have destroyed some of them.
21. D u r i n g the afternoon, although the situation was confused, it became
evident t h a t the enemy had two m a i n columns. One was advancing n o r t h on
Acroma a n d was engaged by our armoured forces about 17 miles west of E l Adem.
The other was directed on El Adem and was located 15 miles south of t h a t place
at last light.
India-Burma-China.
22. General Stilwell has arrived
General Wavell.
in New Delhi for consultation
with
Assam
Front.
23. The B u r m a army has completed its w i t h d r a w a l u p the C h i n d w i n valley
and about 30.000 troops are now believed to be resting and re-organising in the
I m p h a l area. There has been no contact w i t h the enemy since the action round
Kalewa on the 10th May. Enemy activity along the river has not yet developed
into an a t t e m p t to follow u p . The enemy does not a p p e a r to have been reinforced.
24.
There are also about 6,000 Chinese troops in the I m p h a l area.
Yunnan
Front.
25. Chinese reports indicate t h a t the J a p a n e s e t h r u s t u p the B u r m a road
has made little progress and is meeting w i t h considerable resistance.
26. T h e remainder of the Chinese armies in B u r m a are finding their way
back into Y u n n a n .
Intelligence.
France and the -Low
Countries.
27. I t has been established t h a t one P a n z e r Division and two infantry
divisions have left F r a n c e and have passed t h r o u g h Belgium, presumably en­
route for the E a s t e r n F r o n t . The number of divisions in France, however, remains
unaltered a t 25 (of which three are t r a i n i n g divisions), as a P a n z e r Division has
arrived for refit from the R u s s i a n F r o n t and unidentified i n f a n t r y divisions have
t a k e n the place of t h e two which have left. T h e r e a r e indications t h a t another
Panzer Division may be leaving P r a n c e shortly, and it is even possible t h a t this
move has already begun. I n H o l l a n d a n d Belgium the number of G e r m a n
divisions is still three.
H u-Mjary.
28. T h e despatch of f u r t h e r H u n g a r i a n troops to the Russian front h a s
been taking place d u r i n g t h e last month, and is believed to be continuing.
Elements of two a r m y corps a p p e a r to be included in the e x p e d i t i o n a r y force.
The equivalent of six divisions is believed to have arrived a t t h e front, ft is not
certain whether the two divisions which were in R u s s i a t h r o u g h o u t the w i n t e r
have been w i t h d r a w n .
29. R u s s i a n P r e s s a n d R a d i o announcements locate H u n g a r i a n forces as
far north as the B r y a n s k sector, while the G e r m a n communiques speak of joint
German-Hungarian-Roumanian a t t a c k s on the K h a r k o v front.
South-West Pacific
Area.
30. T h e Governor of P o r t u g u e s e T i m o r r e p o r t s t h a t sporadic guerrilla
activity is still c o n t i n u i n g in the P o r t u g u e s e p a r t of the island, but h a s ceased in
Dutch Timor.
31. Considerable U . S . A . reinforcements, i n c l u d i n g one i n f a n t r y division,
have reached A u s t r a l i a d u r i n g t h e p a s t week.
32.
T h e A u s t r a l i a n forces in P o r t Moresby have also been reinforced.
AIR
SITUATION. General. 33. On t h e W e s t e r n F r o n t , activity w a s greatly restricted by persistent bad
weather.
Enemy a t t a c k s on M a l t a were a g a i n on a small scale.
Heavy a t t a c k s were m a d e by our a i r c r a f t on enemy l a n d i n g grounds, camps
and mechanised forces in Libya.
United Kingdom.
34.
F i g h t e r Command flew 2,595 sorties by d a y a n d 206 by night,
35. E n e m y activity a g a i n s t this country w a s a g a i n on a small scale, except
on the n i g h t 2 4 t h / 2 5 t h , when about 70 a i r c r a f t bombed the Poole a r e a a n d the
Isle of W i g h t .
Three r a i d e r s were destroyed, one was probably destroyed and three were
damaged.
Germany and Occupied Territory.
Day.
36. F i g h t e r , Bomber a n d A r m y Co-operation C o m m a n d s despatched 691,
4 and 19 sorties respectively.
37. H a r a s s i n g a t t a c k s on a small scale w e r e c a r r i e d o u t by Spitfires of
Fighter Command and M u s t a n g s of A r m y Co-operation Command a g a i n s t
objectives in N o r t h e r n F r a n c e .
38. F i g h t e r sweeps involved 55 s q u a d r o n sorties.
Several of these
operations were uneventful, b u t on four occasions some opposition was encountered,
and in combat we destroyed five enemy fighters, probably destroyed a n o t h e r and
damaged 20. Six Spitfires are missing.
Might.
39. Six tons of H . E . bombs were dropped a t St. N a z a i r e , but heavy cloud
prevented observation of results. T h r e e a i r c r a f t c a r r i e d out t h i s attack, which
was the only offensive operation u n d e r t a k e n d u r i n g t h e week.
[23878]
c
Coastal Operations.
40. Coastal Command flew 430 sorties, of which 58 were on convoy escort.
S h i p p i n g protection patrols by Fighter Command involved 870 sorties.
41. I n a t t a c k s on shipping by aircraft of F i g h t e r a n d Coastal Commands,
a n armed minesweeper was set on fire off the D u t c h coast, two 1,200-ton ships
near Bergen were h i t with cannon and machine-gun fire, a n d off D i e p p e an
E-boat w a s damaged.
42. Eighty-three aircraft of Bomber Command laid a t o t a l of 133 sea mines
in enemy waters.
Mediterranean.
Libya and Egypt.
43. I n the early p a r t of the week our a i r c r a f t made continuous bombing and
machine-gun a t t a c k s on enemy landing grounds a t M a r t u b a , D e r n a a n d Tmimi,
a n d on camps a n d M.T. The attacks were intensified when enemy columns started
to move e a s t w a r d s on the 26th. On the 27th Bostons a n d bomber K i t t y h a w k s
heavily attacked columns advancing in the B i r F f a k e i m - B i r E l Gobi area, while
fighters made low-flying attacks on enemy M.T. vehicles in rear of the columns.
44. On the following night and day our a i r c r a f t continued t h e i r a t t a c k s on
enemy landing grounds, a n d on columns south-west of El A d e m a n d south and
east of Bir H a k e i m , while fighter patrols were m a i n t a i n e d in the battle area.
45. Wellingtons bombed railway sidings and stores d u m p s in the Benghazi
area and laid mines in the H a r b o u r . Naval Albacores laid mines in Derna
H a r b o u r . R o a d traffic in the Sirte a r e a and n o r t h of J e d a b y a was attacked by
Beaufighters.
46. Enemy aircraft attacked our l a n d i n g g r o u n d s a t M e r s a M a t r u h , El
Adem, Daba and Gambut. Six a i r c r a f t bombed the r a i l w a y a t E l Hisheiba,
south of Sidi B a r r a n i , setting fire to 30 petrol wagons. On the n i g h t of the
2 7 t h / 2 8 t h a fairly heavy attack was made on Tobruk.
47. D u r i n g these operations 16 enemy a i r c r a f t were destroyed, 6 were
probably destroyed and 11 were damaged. W e lost 16 a i r c r a f t .
Malta.
48. E n e m y bomber operations against the I s l a n d were a g a i n on a small
scale, only 56 sorties being flown. T h e enemy fighter effort was considerably
reduced, a daily average of about 35 single-engine fighter sorties being flown, as
compared w i t h about 80 in the previous week. Some of these fighters carried
bombs, others acted as escorts to bombers or c a r r i e d out sweeps over the Island.
49.
The aerodromes were h i t but little d a m a g e was caused.
50. Our fighters destroyed 12 enemy a i r c r a f t , probably destroyed 5 and
damaged 10. A n t i - a i r c r a f t guns damaged another. W e lost one Spitfire.
Sicily.
51. Wellingtons made three n i g h t attacks on Messina. F i r e s were started
in railway yards, a n d bursts were seen near oil cisterns a n d the port power-stationOther Wellingtons dropped bombs on C a t a n i a aerodrome a n d A u g u s t a Harbour.
Several reconnaissances were made of h a r b o u r s and aerodromes in Sicily.
Sea
Communications.
52. Wellingtons attacked two merchant vessels of 5,000 a n d 1,000 tons, on a
south-easterly course, north-west of Benghazi.
I t is believed t h a t the larger
vessel was hit. The smaller vessel was straddled.
53. Near misses were scored on two medium-sized m e r c h a n t vessels, on an
easterly course, 37 miles south-east of Cape Stilo (South-West Italy), a n d on a
5,000-ton merchant vessel, course south-east, 120 miles east of C a p e Spartivento.
54. A t t a c k s were also m a d e on two destroyers off Djerba, on a t a n k e r a n d
an escort vessel in the Gulf of Sirte, on four m e r c h a n t vessels and four destroyers
north-west of Benghazi, a n d on a vessel n o r t h of Bomba, but results were n o t
observed.
55. A Beaufighter a t t a c k e d about 18 E-boats 20 miles south of
Three vessels were hit, resulting in explosions.
Malta.
India.
56. From the 19th to 25th, daily reconnaissances of C h i t t a g o n g were c a r r i e d
out by J a p a n e s e aircraft, a n d two small ineffective attacks were m a d e on t h e
landing ground. Six enemy bombers circled Cox's B a z a a r (100 miles n o r t h of
Akyab), but no a t t a c k developed.
Burma.
57. Between the 20th a n d 27th, our a i r c r a f t carried out e i g h t a t t a c k s on
river craft on the M a y u a n d C h i n d w i n r i v e r s ; a small steamer and several barges
are believed to have been hit.
58. A k y a b aerodrome was bombed five t i m e s ; one enemy a i r c r a f t was shot
down, another destroyed on the ground, a n d a t h i r d damaged. F i r e s were started
on Mingalaon aerodrome. O t h e r t a r g e t s successfully attacked included b a r r a c k s
and stores a t K y a u k p y u and a pontoon bridge a t K a n g y i .
Pacific Zone.
59. A t t a c k s by Allied a i r c r a f t a g a i n s t enemy aerodromes at L a e ,
Vunakanau and Koepang, resulted in t h e destruction of at least three J a p a n e s e
aircraft on the ground a n d d a m a g e to many others. Five enemy fighters were
shot down and five more probably destroyed in the air. W e lost eight bombers.
60. I n a r a i d on s h i p p i n g at Amboina, H u d s o n s (two of which a r e missing)
destroyed one fighter' a n d probably destroyed two more. A n e a r miss on a
1,000-ton ship w a s reported. S h i p p i n g a t R a b a u l a n d L a e w a s also attacked.
61. Five r a i d s by J a p a n e s e a i r c r a f t were m a d e on P o r t Moresby; no r e p o r t s
of damage have been received. Ten of t h e r a i d e r s were damaged by our fighters
(two of which are missing) a n d another by A.A. gunfire.
Russia.
62. The G e r m a n A i r Force now engaged on the R u s s i a n F r o n t ' is estimated
at about 2,300 L E . aircraft, of w h i c h more t h a n half is o p e r a t i n g on the Southern
Front. For the s u p p o r t of the a t t a c k on the K e r c h P e n i n s u l a it is believed t h a t
some 600 a i r c r a f t were employed, i n c l u d i n g a strong long-range bomber force a n d
nearly all the available dive bombers a n d fighters; there is every indication t h a t
a very intensive scale of effort was achieved d u r i n g the first few days of these
operations, a n d since t h i s must have been concentrated on a n a r r o w front of only
about 15 miles, the German a i r a t t a c k m u s t have been a very i m p o r t a n t factor in
the rapid recovery of the peninsula.
63. The R u s s i a n offensive a t K h a r k o v a p p e a r s to have met w i t h little a i r
opposition i n its opening stages, probably due to the concentration of forces in
the Crimea, but the r a p i d conclusion of operations in t h a t a r e a probably released
considerable forces which were t r a n s f e r r e d back to the K h a r k o v area to oppose
the Russian advance; these may h a v e been further increased by the move of u n i t s
from other sectors of the front. A s a result, it is believed t h a t a i r operations
have been on an intensity equal to t h a t reached in the Crimea a n d have probably
contributed to the slowing u p of R u s s i a n progress not only by affording s t r o n g
close support in the battle area, b u t also by s t r i k i n g at their communications,
particularly the bridges over the Donetz.
64. There seems little doubt t h a t the G e r m a n s were u n p r e p a r e d for the
Russian a t t a c k a n d the movement of u n i t s between different sectors of the front
[23878]
c 2
h a s almost certainly dislocated German A i r Force dispositions for the beginning
of the main offensive in the south, to which t h e Kerch operation a p p e a r s to have
been a preliminary. Much will depend on the success of the Russians in gaining
the initiative on other sectors of the front a n d thus compelling the German Air
Force to keep its u n i t s on the move; the present a i r forces which the Germans
possess on the Russian front are still considerably below the peak reached during
operations last summer and are therefore regarded as i n a d e q u a t e to meet large­
scale a t t a c k s on a number of widely separated sectors.
65. A i r operations on the Moscow and L e n i n g r a d fronts continue to be
relatively u n i m p o r t a n t and consist mainly of patrol activity a n d local tactical
strikes aimed mostly at road and rail communications. The force engaged in
n o r t h e r n Norway a n d F i n l a n d has carried out only isolated attacks against
M u r m a n s k and shipping in the port d u r i n g the past few weeks w i t h little effect;
w i t h the passage of convoys to the north of Norway, however, operations have
temporarily been on a considerable scale reinforced by u n i t s based in the Bardufoss
area, a n d have met w i t h some success. The number of torpedo-carrying aircraft
in this area is increasing and at present constitutes 20 to 30 long-range bombers
H e . I l l and J u . 88, and 15 to 20 coastal types He. 115 a n d Bv. 138.
HOME S E C U R I T Y S I T U A T I O N .
General.
By
Day.
66. Bombs were dropped on t h e 23rd at the Severn T u n n e l junction,
Monmouthshire, and the r a i l w a y was i n t e r r u p t e d for a day a n d some houses and
mains damaged.
On the 26th a number of bombs were dropped around
Southampton. L i t t l e d a m a g e was caused except temporary dislocation of rail
traffic.
By
Night.
67. On the n i g h t 2 4 t h / 2 5 t h a number of bombs were" d r o p p e d round Poole,
but the bombing was scattered. Damage was caused to houses, communications
a n d public u t i l i t y services, but was not extensive. On the 2 7 t h / 2 8 t h slight
d a m a g e was caused round G r e a t Yarmouth.
Casualties.
68. E s t i m a t e d civilian casualties for
27th M a y were 10 killed a n d 20 injured.
the week e n d i n g 0600 hours on
A P P E N D I C E S I, I I , I I I and I V will be published periodically.
A P P E N D I X V.
Casualties to H.M. Auxiliary Vessels and to Naval Personnel.
May 2 5 . — M / S D r i f t e r Internes
damaged by mine in the T h a m e s E s t u a r y .
May 2 6 . — M / S D r i f t e r Eddy m i n e d and sunk off M a l t a .
missing.
May 27.—A./S T r a w l e r Arctic
Thirteen of the crew rescued.
Pioneer
E i g h t of the crew
bombed a n d sunk a t
Spithead.
The following casualties to N a v a l personnel have been r e p o r t e d : Officers : Killed 9, missing 7, wounded 5.
R a t i n g s : Killed 108, missing 10, wounded 49.
These figures include r a t i n g s killed and wounded in H . M . S .
Trinidad.
A P P E N D I X VI. Provisional operational aircraft battle casualties for the period: dawn, Thursday,
21st May, to dawn, Thursday, 28th May, 1942.
Metropolitan Area.
British.
In the
Air.
On the
Ground.
B o m b e r s ...
F i g h t e r s ...
Coastal
A r m y Co-Operation
13
Total
Enemy.
Probably
Destroyed.
2
1
Destroyed.
2
6
Bombers
Fighters
Miscellaneous
Damaged.
6
21
Total
27
Middle East (including M a l t a ) .
British.
In the
6
13
Bombers...
F i g h t e r s ...
Others
Total
Air.
On the
Ground.
1
1
19
(Two crews are safe.)
Enemy.
Probably
Destroyed.
2
7
Destroyed.
10
16
B o m b e r s ...
F i g h t e r s ...
Miscellaneous
Total
26
Damaged.
5
10
9
15
(Of t h e above t o t a l s , 4 were d e s t r o y e d and 1 d a m a g e d b y A.A.)
Far East.
British and Allied.
In the Air.
10
B o m b e r s ...
F i g h t e r s ...
Others
On the
Ground.
2
Total
12
Enemy.
Destroyed.
1
7
B o m b e r s ...
Fighters
Miscellaneous
Total
8
Probably
Destroyed.
Damaged.
1
11
11
(Of t h e above t o t a l s , 1 w a s d a m a g e d by A.A.)
]ff O T E S . — ( a ) No a c c o u n t is t a k e n of e n e m y aircraft destroyed on t h e ground in any t h e a t r e .
(b) No a c c o u n t is t a k e n of B r i t i s h Naval aircraft casualties.
APPENDIX
VII.
Air Attacks on Enemy Territory in Europe.
Extracts from Recent Raid Assessment Reports.
The following reports of d a m a g e have been received d u r i n g the past week :—
Cologne.—In
t h e last week of A p r i l a factory in B a y e n t h a l was seriously
damaged a n d the annexe thereto completely destroyed by fire. I t is understood
that the factory was m a n u f a c t u r i n g meteorological balloons.
Nantes.—Photographs
taken on 7th May show the following d a m a g e ; —
On the island betiveen Bras de la Madeleine and Bras de Permit, two
large sheds, one of them in the shipyard, are g u t t e d ; six large buildings
are demolished a n d several others are damaged by fire or H . E .
In the Prairie de la Madeleine
three sides have been cleared a n d a
factory building or warehouse h a s been p a r t i a l l y demolished.
North of the River Loire there is a l a r g e a r e a of damage by blast, a n d
probable roof d a m a g e to a block of buildings in the R u e Scribe a n d to a
factory n e a r the Boulevard A m i r a l Courbet.
There is also damage to residential p r o p e r t y in other p a r t s of the town.
Boulogne.-Photographs
taken d u r i n g t h e a t t a c k on 17th M a y reveal a
concentration of bombs in t h e wet dock area. T h e r e a r e a t least five bursts on
the quay w h i c h joins G a r e M a r i t i m e to the town station, a n d i t is reasonable to
assume t h a t a n y rail traffic to the M a r i t i m e S t a t i o n would be seriously impeded.
Sea Mining.
In Kiel
Fjord—
(i) On 3rd M a y the Herrenwyk,
of 3,500 tons, was mined a n d her back
was broken.
' ­
(ii) I n t h e same month the G e r m a n cargo boat Lavinia struck a mine. I t
is not known whether the ship sank.
. (iii) A t t h e end of A p r i l or early in the month of M a y the G e r m a n t a n k e r
Zabern w a s damaged by a mine.
On 18th M a y it was l e a r n t t h a t one of the G j e d s e r - W a r n e m u n d e ferries was
recently damaged by a mine and it was believed t h a t it would be out of service
for some time.
The Norwegian Vestra, of 1,422 tons, w a s mined a n d sank a t the south
entrance to the Sound on 20th May. She was c a r r y i n g a cargo of salted h e r r i n g
to Stettin.
The Swedish tanker Procyon, of 8,721 tons, when homeward bound, is
reported to have suffered slight damage, in a position not stated, as a result of
mines.