Progress Report No. 5 Special Flight RCM

Transcript from AIR 20/8446 Public Records Office, Kew

PROGRESS REPORT NO. 5 ON R.C.M. INVESTIGATIONS BY AIR COMMAND, SOUTH EAST ASIA

Period under Review: - 26th February to 20th April, 1945

Part I

SORTIES FLOWN.

During this period, only one search Liberator has been available for operations, and this aircraft has been intermittently unserviceable form 20th March, onwards.

SORTIE	DATE	ROUTE	REMARKS
1.	1/2 March	Andamans, Car Nicobar, Sabang, Kota Raja
2.	5/6 March	Gt. Coco I., Puket, Butang, Diamond Point, Gt. Nicobar, Car Nicobar.
3.	9/10 March	Rangoon	Special equipment failed
4.	19/20 March	Rangoon, Moulmein, Bangkok, Mergui.	Returned early - one engine failed.

SPECIAL FLIGHT NO. 159 SQUADRON.

Replacement Aircraft.

1. The replacement for the Liberator aircraft which was lost on the 1st February has been received by the Flight. It is at present being night camouflaged and will subsequently require to be fitted with search equipment.

Future Operations.

3. A number of Japanese radar sites are know to exist in the vicinity of the Malacca Straits, but present intelligence is not sufficiently complete to enable their locations to be pinpointed. Accordingly, arrangements have been completed for the Special Flight to investigate this area with a view to clarifying the situation.

4. In order to extend the useful search range, the Special Flight aircraft has been detached to Minneriya for the duration of these investigations.

NO. 1341 FLIGHT.

5. Seven Halifax aircraft are at present in transit between the U.K. and No. 1341 Flight at Digri. Four are known to have arrived in India, and action is being taken to expedite their delivery to the Flight.

Sigs/RCM.

23rd April, 1945

{Part II lists the details of the signals found on the first two flights -- it has not been transcribed. RQ}