NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCHES
23 Hampdens, 12 Wellingtons and 7 Whitleys on shipping searches; 2 Blenheims made reconnaissance flights to Sylt. This was the biggest operation of the war so far.
The Wellingtons found a convoy in the Schillig Roads, north of Wilhelmshaven, but because of low cloud and bad visibility could not get into a favourable bombing position. The Wellingtons remained in the area for half an hour, flying at low level and being engaged by Flak and by fighters. 5 of the Wellingtons were shot down. The R.A.F. was reluctant to concede that German fighters had achieved the success of shooting down nearly half of a bomber formation and it was officially hoped that the losses were due to Flak but a German radio broadcast attributed the Wellington losses to fighter attack; 1 German fighter was admitted to have been lost. No German ships were hit.
The other forces operating on this day saw no action.
