-2- knots with a slight list and escorted by a JU 88. At 9.15 a.m. 24th after engaging the JU 88, Sunderland attacked in face of heavy A.A. fire. At 10.30 a.m. the tanker was again sighted at 0RTIGUEIRA Harbour where she was attacked the same afternoon by a Beaufort and hit amidships with one torpedo. The ship was finally beached. One Hampden attacked one of the battle cruisers at BREST and dropped a heavy weight bomb in the target area. MEDITERRANEAN. 23rd. Marylands attacked a landing ground West of EL AGHEILA and Tomahawks destroyed 8 aircraft on the ground at MAGRUN. Hurricanes destroyed a petrol lorry and 8 other lorries on the road West of EL AGHEILA. Little enemy M.T. movement was reported East of this place. 23rd/24th. 7 Wellingtons successfully attacked barracks and M.T. parks at MISURATA. A nuisance raid lasting l0 hours was made on TRIPOLI (L). Enemy aircraft attacked MALTA without causing serious damage and were suspected of mine laying. On the 24th four JU 88's with heavy fighter escort twice attacked MALTA Harbour. One bomb hit a merchant vessel and one of H.M. ships was slightly damaged. Three JU 88's were destroyed and another probably destroyed by A.A. and fighters. One Hurricane is missing. FAR EAST. MALAYA. 23rd. One of our aircraft attacked PATANI aerodrome where about 100 enemy aircraft had been located. BORNEO. 24th. Five Blenheims attacked an enemy force off KUCHING and obtained one hit on a transport and six near misses. A heavy enemy attack on SINKAWANG aerodrome rendered it unserviceable but no aircraft were destroyed. BURMA . Further reports of air raids on RANGOON on 23rd indicate that of 60 Japanese bombers escorted by fighters 10 aircraft were shot down for the loss of three from air Volunteer Group Squadron. One pilot is safe. The R.A.F. had no casualties. Unconfirmed estimates of casualties give 400 persons killed. Anti-personnel bombs were largely used and damage to the Harbour was s %light. |