-2- PHILIPPINES . Activity continues with further landings in the North of LUOON. RUSSIA . The Russian counter offensive is continuing on the whole MOSCOW front and is particularly effective in the KLIN and TULA Sectors. The Russian claims to have encircled KLIN and to have recaptured YAKHROMA, VENEV, MIKLAILOV and STALINGORSK are likely to be substantially correct. (III) AIR OPERATIONS 12th/13th. 15 R.N.O.A.F. Aircraft took part without casualties. BREST. 22 tons of bombs were aimed at the German ships but owing to cloud and ground defences bursts could not be accurately located, 23 tons were dropped on searchlights and anti-aircraft positions, some heavy guns being silenced. DUNKIRK . Visibility was good and 16 tons of bombs were dropped in the docks area starting fires. 13th. 16 Hampdens were sent to the BREST area. Four of them laid mines, ten abandoned task and two are missing. Spitfires damaged a Distillery in Northern FRANCE. 13th/14th. Operations cancelled. LIBYA. 12th. 14 Marylands and six Beaufighters patrolled North of DERNA on the supply route from CRETE and destroyed four transport aircraft and damaged twelve. Five Marylands are missing. Of five Blenheims which unsuccessfully searched for shipping North-East of BENGHAOI two were shot down by Messerschmidts 110. Two squadrons of Blenheims with fighter escort attacked vehicles in the TMIMI area. MEDITERRANEAN. 13th. 11 Blenheims attacked a tanker and two destroyers in ARGOSTOLION HARBOUR with unobserved results. Three Blenheims are missing and one Messerschmidt 109 was shot down. CRETE. 11th/12th. 20 Wellingtons bombed PALEME aerodrome causing large fires and igniting a petrol dump. (IV) ENEMY ACTIVITY 13th/14th. About 25 aircraft operated off the East Coast. BURMA. 11th. 23 Japanese aircraft renewed the attack on TAVOY aerodrome. The aerodrome at VICTORIA POINT is prepared for demolition. (V) AIRCRAFT CASUALTIES in Operations Over and from the British Isles: British - two bombers missing. (VI) RUSSIA. Our Mission reports 8/12 our Valentine tanks have done well in the MOSCOW sector. It is reported that 90 had been in action and only three knocked out to date. The Ger %mans on the MOSKOW Front appear to have no lack of ammunition. More and more evidence is accumulating of the great difficulties experienced by the Germans in mechanical transport maintenance. |