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Ack Ack gunners under strain
CONTINUOUS MANNING IS PROVING A STRAIN
From: Governor & Commander in Chief To: War Office
Prolonged continuous manning with small artillery establishments and deficiencies is proving a very severe strain. 13 MCD Regiment and 4th Heavy Ack Ack Regiment are both 25 per cent below strength and efficiency is impaired. I must press for reinforcements in the following priority: first, 259 Ack Ack 100 Coast Defence 50 field; second, 250 Ack Ack 50 coast defence, 50 field. Numbers include Ack Ack specialists already asked for. We can accept the remainder with any degree of training.
EXTRA ARTIFICERS REQUIRED
From: Governor & Commander in Chief To: War Office
Present total strength in Malta of artificers and fitters in Malta 79 and of electricians and electrical fitters 15. Artillery are therefore short of 25 artificers and fitters, and ten electricians and electrical fitters. I do not consider any artificers Royal Artillery can be spared for other duties until these deficiencies are made up with fully qualified tradesmen.
FIND RESOURCES LOCALLY, SAYS WAR OFFICE
From: War Office To: Governor & Commander in Chief
Demands for arms and equipment for police, local forces and other civil authorities should be met as far as possible form local military reserves and included in future demands by you. Any outstanding indents made by police, local forces, etc on Crown Agents for the Colonies should be considered cancelled except those for items which are not standard Army equipment or clothing. Demands for such items will continue to be placed at present.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 13 JANUARY TO DAWN 14 JANUARY 1941
Weather Clear.
0932-1002 hrs Air raid alert for six JU88 aircraft which approach from the north, circle to the east and carry out reconnaissance over Grand Harbour. Six Hurricanes, three Fulmars, three Swordfish and one Glen Martin Maryland are airborne; no claims.
1120-1130 hrs Air raid alert for three enemy aircraft flying very high across the Island from the south west to the north. Six Hurricanes and three Fulmars are scrambled and anti-aircraft guns open fire; no claims.
Military casualties Sergeant James Reardon, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 148 Squadron.
OPERATIONS REPORTS MONDAY 13 JANUARY 1941
AIR HQ 0629-1224 hrs Maryland mission to reconnoitre Naples with instructions to execute if possible additional recce requested in secret signal. Reaching Gulf of Salerno observed heavy cloud which rendered special objective impossible. Enemy fleet sighted over Naples and on receiving signal to the effect another Maryland was despatched. 1315-1512 hrs Maryland reconnaissance to discover enemy and return immediately after sending sighting report: nil report despite excellent visibility. 1040-1338 hrs Maryland reconnaissance Catania to examine damage by Wellington operations; cloud prevented recce. 0535-1510 hrs Sunderland patrol western Ionian Sea.
LUQA 69 Squadron (431 Flight): 1 Maryland reconnaissance Naples and special mission (unsuccessful); 1 Maryland reconnaissance unsuccessful attempt to locate convoy; 1 Maryland reconnaissance Catania unsuccessful due to clouds.
8th Bn MANCHESTER REGIMENT B Company post at Dingli taken over by 2nd Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment.
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