Despite the recent heavy losses, the attempts to find and bomb German warships continued regularly, but the bomber forces involved were ordered not to fly as close to the mainland as on previous raids unless there was good cloud cover. These operations were carried out on 13 days in this period and 186 sorties were flown: 87 by Blenheims, 73 by Wellingtons, 18 by Hampdens and 8 by Whitleys. German fighters were encountered on two occasions. 2 Wellingtons were lost and 1 Me 109 was claimed shot down on 2 January; 1 Blenheim was lost and 2 Me nos were claimed on 10 January. No German ships were seen on any of these raids and no bombs were dropped.
RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS,
