DEFE 3/7
DEFE3 7 covers the decryption period between 25th November 1943 and 28th November 1943 – however, some information related to dates outside this period.
The link to DEFE 3/7 at the national archives is here.
To download the notes as a pdf document click here
Note the date of the event refers to a date in the message not necessarily the date of the message.
Flifue = FliegerFührer
Note –
- Number of pages refer to “GAF sightings” - these are for the most part not included in the summaries below as they do not refer to specific aircraft types or units.
- Flivos of Divisions are also not included below
- Code “Yoke” appears to refer to “Y” service.
- Times are direct from the message i.e. Zulu time.
| Page | Report | Date of event | Notes |
| 571 | VL504 | 24/11/43 | One of I./KG 30 Ghedi and two of II./KG 30 Villafranca landed Ravenna by 20.30 hrs Z on 24/11/43 after operations. Aircraft up at base at 15.30 hrs Z (first Gruppe) 15.15 hrs Z (second Gruppe). Times of attack between 17.30 and 17.45 hrs Z. Hits claimed on tank depot and harbour (comment, unidentified but see VL450).
Secondly, five of I./KG 30 and one of II./KG 30 and one of II./KG 54 Bergauo landed Treviso by 21.15 hrs Z on 24/11/43 |
| 569 | VL505 | 24/11/43 | “Railway line” clear according to Luftwaffe authority Perugia 21/11/43 railway line cut at Poligno (comment when unspecified ) according same authority evening 21/11/43. |
| 563 | VL508 | 24/11/43 | Effort southeast on 24/11/43 further VL475. no ops night 23-24/11/43. No ops by Fliegerführer Albania up to about 16.00 hrs Z owing weather. Ops Fliegerführer Croatia badly hampered same cause, totalled 8 He 46 battle
ops Glina area. |
| 561 | VL509 | 24/11/43 | According to Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost on 24/11/43 (able) IA of Fliegerkorps X is to visit Luftflotte 2 and to report to Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost on return. (baker) ALGs in Albania are Tirana and Scutari.
(Charlie) airfield servicing platoons to be sent immediately from Podgorica to both these airfields as reception detachments for visiting Ju 88s. (Dog) Being set up currently: one heavy radio beacon and one heavy visual beacon each at Dubrovnik and (strong indications) Zara plus an auxiliary aircraft security station at Zara (Easy) Fliegerführer Albania aware of all the foregoing. |
| 555-9 | VL510 | 24/11/43 | Western Mediterranean effort on 24/11/43 included (able) Fliegerführer Luftflotte. Total 26 fighter sorties scramble and freelance patrol including one rotte of II./JG 77 in afternoon. 4 Fw 190 on Sangro Bridge and M/T in front of 65 ID, 14.30 – 15.30 hrs Z. 1 Me 109 missing, further operations cancelled owing weather. No reconnaissance owing soft ground. Other aincraft in Luftflotte 2 area. One aircraft offshore reconnaissance 4247, 1355 East - Cap Gargano - Ancona , down before 10.00 hrs Z. One Ju 88 on approximate route 4037, 1215E – 4037, 1315E – 4007, 1415E – 3937, 1415E – 3922, 1515E – 3852, 1415E – 3947, 1215E – 3907, 1115E – 4052, 1145E, 06.30 – 10.30 Hrs Z. Offshore reconnaissance Ancona – Bari 06.45 – 08.15 hrs Z. One aircraft offshore and sea reconnaissance round Corsica and Sardinia with Bonifacio Straits, 07.15 – 11.30 hrs Z.
Fliegerdivision 2. 1 of 1(F)./30 (?) on approximate route 3807, 0445E – 3707, 0745E – 3707, 0345E – 3952, 0415E – 03.30 – 09.45 hrs Z. 1 Of 1(F)./33 on approximate route 4207, 0545E – 4237, 0745E – 4152, 0745E – 4107, 0745E – 4007, 0745E – 4.(F)/122, 0615E – 3952, 0415E – 4107, 0315E, 11.45 – 16.45 hrs Z. 2 Ar 196 security patrol Coastwise to Nice, 13.30 - 16.00 hrs Z |
| 549 | VL513 | 17/11/43 | II./ZG 1 and II./JG 53 under 7. JD on 17/11/43. |
| 533 | VL520 | 24/11/43 | Move of a Staffel of SG 151 to Mostar for Fliegerführer Croatia (fair indications from Albania) arranged by Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost on 24/11/43 Comment firstly details of arrangements incomplete, Secondly compare other moves to Mostar in VL426. |
| 531 | VL521 | 23/11/43 | On 23/11/43, strength 2./125 – 6 Arados, 3 serviceable. 11 crews, 8 ready. 3 ready crews and 3 unserviceable aircraft at Pharleron. |
| 529 | VL522 | 24/11/43 | 2 FD reconnaissance intentions for 25/11/43 at 20.00 hrs Z 24/11/43.
1 aircraft morning west of 5º Eas far as 38º N. 1 aircraft evening between 3 and 8º E as far as 40º N. Weather permitting photo or visual reconnaissance harbours west coast of Corsica. 2 aircraft security reconnaissance and A/S patrol late afternoon as far as Nice (comment – from Marseilles) and back. |
| 513 | VL530 | 24/11/43 | Arrangements in hand on 24/11/43 for flying back of signals elements of 1./SG 3 by seaplane from Leros to Eleusis. Comment compare JP6976. |
| 507 | VL533 | 24/11/43 | Incomplete details of intended operation by (slight indications Ju 88) on 24/11/43: Take off from base 15.30 hrs Z. Approach flight from base via 4417, 0925E – 4307, 1035E. |
| 503 | VL535 | 24/11/43 | Order for reconnaissance for night 24-25/11/43 and for day 25/11/43 to Fliegerführer Albania issued midday 24/11/43. photo reconnaissance harbours Bari, Brindisi and Taranto and airfields Manduria and Gioia if not carried out on 24/11/43.
Secondly, order to same for battle operations on 25/11/43 issued evening 24/11/43: ground attack operations at request of Army. |
| 499 | VL537 | 25/11/43 | 20.30 hrs Z 25/11/43, Fliegerdivision 2 intentions for 26/11/43: continuous convoy reconnaissance along African coast.
Late afternoon security reconnaissance along (strong indications French coast). |
| 497 | VL538 | 25/11/43 | II Fliegerkorps intentions 21.30 hrs Z 25/11/43: night 25-26/11/43 no reconnaissance owing weather. Day 26/11/43, Tyrrhenian Sea reconnaissance. Offshore screening west and east, with photo reconnaissance Termoli and Bari weather permitting. Reconnaissance sea area round Corsica including Bonifacio Straits. |
| 479 | VL546 | 25/11/43 | Fliegerkorps XI informed by Berlin on 25/11/43 that all M/T winter equipment destined for 2 Parachute Division was to be sent to Berdichev (comment: 100 miles south of Kiev) |
| 473 | VL549 | 25/11/43 | Fliegerführer Luftflotte intentions 20.00 hrs Z 25/11/43 for 26/11/43: same as for 25/11/43. comment: same as for 23/11/43 namely battle reconnaissance main effort left wing LXXVI Korps, G/A and fighters as for 22/11/43.
Secondly, no Fliegerführer ops 25/11/43 owing weather. |
| 461-3 | VL554 | 25/11/43 | Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost total 25/11/43, 122 sorties.
Able: - Reconnaissance Ju 88, one probe towards Alex, and task Turkey broken off owing engine trouble. 1 screen southeast, Rhodes - Castelorizo and task Turkey 11.30 – 15.00 hrs Z. 1 met reconnaissance west of Crete and Ionian Sea 05.00 – 08.00 hrs Z. One offshore Spartiverto - Otranto 11.00 – 13.00 hrs Z. 2 Me 109 on photo reconnaissance Taranto Manduria broke off owing weather. Baker:- Bombers. 2 Ar 196 anti-submarine patrol west of Kythnos without incident (comment, compare para Charlie). 9 Hs 126 and 6 He 46 supporting attacks on guerrillas, area Jajce, Glina, Virovitiga and Travnik. Charlie: - 2 Me 109freelance patrol area Kea – Sunion, with aircraft armament attack on Allied submarine west of Kythnos. 28 Me 109 scrambled from Kalamaki on false report. Dog: - 12 Arado escorted air transport. Easy:- 48 Ju 52 and 1 glider towing He 111 in area Greece – Albania – Serbia – Vienna. Fox:- 8 W 34 supplying Axis troops encircled in Glina. Secondly, on 24/11/43 1 minesweeping Ju 52 operated in Danube Delta. |
| 451 | VL558 | 24/11/43 | Allocation of 200 guns in VL512 was requested by Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost on 24/11/43. |
| 449 | VL559 | 22/11/43 | Late 22/11/43 airfield Shijak (comment – see VL23) reported serviceable again for all classes, landing, take-off and taxying only on runway. |
| 439 | VL564 | 25/11/43 | 13./ SG 151 (comment – compare VL520) had arrived or was about to arrive at Mostar afternoon 25/11/43. |
| 405 | VL579 | 26/11/43 | Fliegerkorps II bombers to operate night 26-27/11/43 according intentions 10.00 hrs Z 26/11/43. |
| 401 | VL581 | 26/11/43 | Orders to Fliegerfürhrer Albania for 26/11/43.
Able G/A operation at request of army. Baker. Photo reconnaissance Bari, Brindisi and Taranto harbours and Manduria and Gioia airfields if not carried out on 25/11/43. Secondly. Orders to Reconnaissance Kette Mostar for 26/11/43 were as for 25/11/43, comment, these in VL476, orders have been unchanged in part since 21/11/43 (VL429) amd may be summarised as follows: photo reconnaissance Termoli & Termoli harbour and coast to northwest plus watch of island of Vis and photo reconnaissance guerilla airfield Vis. |
| 397-399 | VL582 | 25/11/43 | IV./JG 27 Podgorica informed on 25/11/43 that the Podgorica detachment after arrival of about 10 Ju 52 was to transfer immediately to Skoplje. 22 men to remain in Podgorica for servicing 8 Me 109 of which no details known. Comment - VL274 mentioned transfer (presumably of flying elements) as having been completed with move on 18/11/43 on 1 Me 109 from Podgorica to Kalamaki JP8831 mentioned a move on 02/11/43 to Skoplje involving IV./JG 27 JP8738 mentioned 10 St. addressed Nism on 01/11/43. |
| 395 | VL583 | 25/11/43 | Transfers intended for 26/11/43 by Fliegerführer Albania at 13.00 hrs Z 25/11/43. 13./SG 151, and Stab amd 2. Nagr 12 to Mostar (comment compare VL564 and VL426). Aircraft (plural) of 1./NAGr 12 detached to Gida back to Devoli.
Secondly strength same time, Nagr 12, aircraft 23 ready 8, crews 32 ready 20. 13./SG 151 aircraft 10 and 5, crews 12 and 9. I./LG 1 (comment replaces detachment ops gruppe Ju 88) aircraft 1 and 1, crews 4 and 3. Adriatic Staffel aircraft 1 and 1, crews 1 and 1. Thirdly at same time Skutari serviceable for all classes. |
| 383 | VL588 | 25/11/43 | Monfaloone aircraft works taken over by Junkers. Extensive building program initiated. Above according to Kriegsmarine on 25/11/43. |
| 363 | VL591 | 25/11/43 | Strong bomber formations of Fliegerdivision 2 expected to operate over sea between 14.00 and 23.00 hrs Z 26/11/43, according Kriegsmarine evening 25/11/43. |
| 351 | VL597 | 25/11/43 | Information 25/11/43 (Able) X Fliegerkorps unable to supply aircraft required by a military authority (comment this authority on Kos on 21/11/43).
Secondly, same military complained that no vessels were available for Mistros reconnaissance (see VL571) and requested allocation of one. |
| 349 | VL598 | 26/11/43 | Intentions 18.00 hrs Z 26/11/43 (Able) of Fliegerkorps II. Night 26-27/11/43 screening both offshore areas including Gulf of Taranto. Day 27/11/43 reconnaissance Adriatic and Tyrrhenian, photo reconnaissance Naples, weather permitting. Photo reconnaissance airfields and harbours Sardinia.
(Baker) Fliegerführer Luftflotte . Battle reconnaissance with main effort in front of extreme left wing. Ground attack and fighters, operations as on 26/11/43. Should Allies again display strong air activity over forward area on 27/11/43, fighter thrusts to have precedence over air defence. |
| 347 | VL599 | 24/11/43 | 3./126 or elements thereof located Leros 24/11/43. Comment – VL320 and 416 to see. |
| 345 | VL600 | 26/11/43 | Attack by Ju 88s on 26/11/43 intended morning same day. Aircraft to leave base at 15.00 hrs Z flying via 4242, 11055 E and 4117, 1305 E, returning base 20.00 hrs Z. |
| 341 | VL602 | 22/11/43 | II./SG 3 at Maritza required on 22/11/43 9 Ju 52 for its move back. Comment – VL375 refers. |
| 327 | VL608 | 25/11/43 | Eastern Mediterranean ops on 25/11/43 included.
First from 06.45 to 11.00 hrs Z sea reconnaissance in Tyrrhenian Sea 4157, 1155 E; 4057, 1155 E; 3907, 1445 E; 3912, 1205 E.No Allied traffic established. Secondly, Flieger Division 2. Able, 2 Ju 88 from 07.30 hrs Z to 15.30 hrs Z on convoy reconnaissance off African coast. Sighting reported in VL534. Baker, 2 Ar 196 from 13.30 to 16.30 hrs Zsecurity reconnaissance and A/S patrol along coast as far as Nice. Charlie, 1 Ju 88 from 13.00 – 19.30 hrs Z sea reconnaissance along convoy route off African Coast (VL540 gave sighting). Dog, of 1.(F)33, first aircraft due up at 07.00 hrs Z, second at 08.00 hrs Z, third at 08.30 hrs Z. |
| 325 | VL609 | 26/11/43 | Intentions 2 Fliegerdivision 21.00 hrs Z 26/11/43 for 27/11/43: 1 Ju 88 to observe results of convoy attack of 26/11/43, 1 Ju 88 security reconnaissance late afternoon between 3 and 8º E to 40º N, photo reconnaissance or visual west Corsican harbours according weather, one rotte security coastal reconnaissance late afternoon to Nice and back. |
| 311 | VL616 | 26/11/43 | Fliegerführer Luftflotte ops on 26/11/43: 34 fighters scramble against artillery spotting aircraft in area of XIV Korps and free-lance patrol over left wing of LXXVI Korps, one Me 109 forced landed. 6 reconnaissance aircraft photo reconnaissance , in from XIV Korps (once) only partly carried out owing fighter defence, in front of LXXVI Pz Korps (twice). No ops by G/A aircraft owing soft ground. |
| 293 | VL625 | 26/11/43 | Photo reconnaissance 10.00 hrs Z 26/11/43: Maddalena harbour (partly covered) 1 escort vessel, 1 cargo vessel of 1500 tons and 4 coasters. In bay just south of Maddalena 2 cargo vessels totalling 5,000 tons. Clear oblique photograph. |
| 281-283 | VL629 | 26/11/43 | Effort Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost on 26/11/43:-
36 sorties including 4 reconnaissance, 5 bombers, 2 fighters, 14 escort, 9 transport, 2 miscellaneous. Reconnaissance: 2 Ju 88 (of which one broke off) in direction Nile Delta – Cyprus and Turkey task 08.15 – 11.30 hrs Z, 1 Ju 88 Met and Sea south of Crete and south west of Peloponnese 04.00 – 07.30 hrs Z, 1 Ju 88 Otranto Straits – Spartivento 12.00 – 13.15 hrs Z. Bombers – 5 He 46 against guerillas in Croatia in areas Virovitica and Bjelovar. Fighters – 2 Me 109 defensive patrol in Athens area against Lightning approaching from North. Escort – 10 Arado and 4 Ju with one convoy. Transport – 9 Ju 52 Greece – Croatia – Aegean. Miscellaneous – 2 Ju 52 mine-detecting morning and afternoon over Candia Harbour. Secondly, on 25/11/43 1 Ju 52 cleared 3 mines in Candia Harbour. |
| 253 | VL642 | 25/11/43 | Total effort Fliegerkorps II on 25/11/43
21 comprising 4 reconnaissance, 17 fighters, No losses. Details – 1 Ju 88 sea reconnaissance Tyrrhenian. 1 Ju 88 reconnaissance east coast of Italy. 1 Me 410 screening west coast of Italy. 1 Me 410 reconnaissance Corsica, no phot owing weather, photo Capraia carried out. 17 Me 205 scramble from Lanasco against formation in Alhenga area. Leaflet dropping: 1 Ju 52 area Parma – Mantua Piacenza – Ghedi, 1 Ju 52 Milan area. |
| 235 | VL651 | 25/11/43 | On 25/11/43, I./LG 1 addressed Eleusis. Comment Able – compare JP8718. This gtuppe when ready to operate was to replace II./KG 6 Larissa, taking over aircraft from the latter. Baker VL583 for serviceability of I./LG 1 in Albania on 25/11/43. |
| 233 | VL652 | 26/11/43 | Some operations west Mediterranean area 26/11/43
1 Ju reconnaissance 04.00 to 09.15 hrs Z sea area between Balearics and African coast including offshore Cap Tenes – Algiers. Recce Tyrrhenian sea from 06.45 – 11.00 hrs Z by unspecified aircraft. 1 Ju from 08.30 – 13.30 hrs Z sea reconnaissance including area off Algiers. 1 of 1(F)./33 was due to take off on unspecified operation at 13.00 hrs Z. 1 Ju on convoy reconnaissance off African coast from 12.30 – 17.30 hrs Z. 2 Ar 196 on reconnaissance along French coast to Nice from 13.15 – 16.00 hrs Z. 1 Ju convoy reconnaissance along African coast from 13.00 – 19.30 hrs Z. Offshore reconnaissance Ortona area 06.15 to 10.00 hrs Z. |
| 229 | VL654 | 26/11/43 | Orders evening 26/11/43 for escort of Palma by Gruppe 126: 3 Staffel to operate from Leros, using also 3 aircraft of 2nd Staffel there. 1st Staffel to transfer 2 aircraft to Leros at first light. After completion of task serviceable aircraft of 1st and 2nd Staffeln to transfer to Skaramanga. |
| 163 | VL680 | 27/11/43 | Intentions Fliegerführer Luftflotte evening 27/11/43 to 28/11/43 unchanged. Same as for 27/11/43. Comment – VL598 refers. |
| 161 | VL681 | 27/11/43 | Fliegerdivision 2 intentions evening 27/11/43 for 28/11/43: 1 Ju 88 security reconnaissance in late afternoon between 3 and 8º East as far as 40º N. If weather favourable, photo or visual reconnaissance of harbours on west coast of Corsica. 1 Rotte security reconnaissance in afternoon along coast as far as Nice and back. |
| 149 | VL686 | 26/11/43 | Appreciation by Fliegerkorps Croatia evening 26/11/43: owing to Allied fighter activity reconnaissance in Western Adriatic and on East Italian coast must be in form of probing flights. To fly along coastal strips or overland courses led to losses and was forbidden. |
| 139 | VL590 | 26/11/43 | According Fliegerführer Albania morning 26/11/43, serviceable aircraft of NAGr 12 and 13./SG 151 on transfer to Mostar reached only Scutari and Podgorica on 25/11/43 owing weather.
Secondly, according to GAF Mostar evening 26/11/43, NAGr 12 would not be operational before 30/11/43. Advanced detachment of latter had arrived Mostar same day. Comment – VL583 and 406 to see. Thirdly, orders evening 26/11/43 for 27/11/43 to NAGr 2 Mostar (Comment – contrst para Seconly above) as on 21/11/43. |
| 135 | VL692 | 27/11/43 | Confirmed by Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost evening 27/11/43(able) absence of road patrols Albania on 27/11/43 clearly due to intensive operations on Italian front.
(baker) Situation regarding continual Spitfire patrols off Valona obscure, but they were thought to have screened an Allied convoy in Otranto Straits. |
| 133 | VL693 | 26/11/43 | Sorties on 26/11/43 by Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost per VL629 also included photo reconnaissance Florina airfield by 1 Me 110 of 3./NAGr 2 Jannima from 10.00 – 11.15 hrs Z. |
| 131 | VL694 | 27/11/43 | Reconnaissance intentions Fliegerkorps II at 21.00 hrs Z 27/11/43 for night 27-28/11/43 and day 28/11/43.
By night screening for undertaking Boredom see VL632 and offshore reconnaissance west. By day sea reconnaissance Tyrrhenian for Allied convoys, sea area round Corsica and Sardinia with Bonifacio Straits and photo reconnaissance Corsican harbours. Photo reconnaissance tasks according to weather. |
| 121 | VL699 | 30/11/43 | GAF Station commands Viterbo, Grosseto and Lecca ordered to restore night landing serviceability by 1/12/43 at Viterbo, Grosseto, and airfield (comment – unidentified but in Siena area), an airfield (comment – unknown here), Pistoia and Pisa Giusto. |
| 101 | VL707 | 26/11/43 | NAGr 12 transferred on 26/11/43 6 aircraft to Mostar and 5 to Devoli, from Gida. Comment – VL583 and 690 refer. |
| 95 | VL709 | 27/11/43 | GAF stations Boccea and Fabrica informed on 27/11/43 that Luftgau XXVIII had ordered minimum intervals of 300 m to be left when constructing parking places and blast bays. |
| 91-3 | VL710 | 27/11/43 | Ops Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost 27/11/43: total 74, comprising 10 reconnaissance, 4 bombers, 2 fighters, 20 escort, 36 transport, 2 miscellaneous, no losses.
Reconnaissance: 1 Ju 88 probing Alexandria - Castelorizo in area 12.00 – 14.30 hrs Z, 2 Ju 88 (one broke off) probing Cyprus and Turkey in area 12.00 -14.00 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 Met south west Peloponnese in area 07.50 – 10.00 hrs Z, 1 Ju 88 Spartivento to Otranto in area 13.00 – 15.00 hrs Z, 1 Ju 88 photo reconnaissance Catania (broken off). 2 Me 110 battle reconnaissance in Pezula area, 2 Me 109 photo reconnaissance Brindisi (broken off). Bombers: 4 Hs 126 support of army in Croatia in Glina and Glamoc areas. Fighters: 2 Me 109 scramble from Kalamaki Allied reconnaissance aircraft. Escort: 4 Ju 88 with one convoy 16 Ar with air transport. Transport: 34 Ju 52, 1 He 111 with glider and one Ar Greece - Crete- Rhodes to Albania. Miscellaneous: 1 W34 supplying troops at Koprivnica. 1 Ju 52 mine detecting Heraklion harbour without result. Supplementary reports: on 25/11/43, 2 Mausi in Danube Estuary. On 26/11/43, two Mausi as on 26/11/43. On 26/11/43 1 Hs 126 reconnaissance in Sarajevo area. No night ops 26-27/11/43 |
| 71 | VL719 | 27/11/43 | Morning 27/11/43 Viterbo “again” fully serviceable. Airfield had night lighting but boundary lighting then out of action. Comment – compare VL699 |
| 61 | VL723 | 26/11/43 | Afternoon 26/11/43 Sarajevo detachment of Reconnaissance Staffel Croatia had 4 Hs 126 serviceable. 5 pilots and 3 observers ready. |
| 51 | VL728 | 26/11/43 | Strength 2./125 afternoon 26/11/43.
Aircraft – 6, serviceable 3. Crews 11 ready 8, of whom 2 Salonika and 3 Phaleron. |
| 49 | VL729 | 15/11/43 | In 7 JD. For signals purposes following: on 15/11/43 II./JG 51, on 18/11/43 II./ZG 76, II./NJG 101, I./JG 27. |
| 37 | VL735 | 27/11/43 | Fliegerführer Luftflotte II total operations on 27/11/43:
(Able) Ground Attack: 12 sorties. At 08.30 hrs Z bombs dropped close by bridge over Sangro in C4403 and M/T concentrations in C4400. At 11.00 hrs Z by 7 Fw 190 on tank and M/T parks in H4399 and H3997. No traffic observed on roads in target area. (Baker) Fighters: 27 sorties escort fro ground attack aircraft and free lance patrol in area of 65 ID. (Charlie) Reconnaissance: 4 sorties in 2 operations, reconnaissance before 65 ID. And photo reconnaissance in area of LXXVI Pz K. |
| 19 | VL744 | 11/11/43 | Now known that Stab./KG 76 at Udine on 11/11/43. |
| 7-11 | VL740 | 27/11/43 | Ops Western Mediterranean included on 27/11/43
(Able) 1 Ju 88 03.15 – 10.30 hrs Z observation of results of convoy attack on 26/11/43. 06.45 hrs in 3707, 0755E 1 cargo and passenger ship 8 – 10,000 t, course 90º, low speed. 07.30 – 07.45 hrs Z in 3732, 0645E – 3732, 0804E patch of oil 2 km wide. 08.15 Hrs Z in 3657, 0535E 2 destroyers stop[ped. Whole of coastal area east of 0630E not seen owing weather. (Baker) 2 Arado 196 security reconnaissance 13.15 – 16.00 hrs Z along coast as far as Nice, no sighting. 1 Ju 88, 11.30 – 17.45 hrs Z in 4237, 0745E – 4137, 0715E – 4107, 0645E – 4137, 0615E – 4137, 0545E – 4007, 0515E – 3952, 0415E – 4052, 0315E – 4137, 0445E – 4207, 0345E. No shipping traffic. (Charlie) Reconnaissance 07.45 – 11.00 hrs Z Olbia – 3907, 0955E – 3937, 1453E – 4.(F)/122, 1115E – Viterbo. No shipping traffic 50 km left or right of course. (Dog) Tyrrhenian Sea06.30 – 11.45 hrs Z no sightings. (Easy) Reconnaissance aircraft reported at 11.15 hrs Z in 4237, 1145E 60 4-engined bomber aircraft on northerly course. |