Scale of Opposition to an Attack on A Certain Island. Note by the Secretary

(v) An air landing division is at present forming at SPEZZIA. Owing, amongst other reasons, to the difficulty of making transport aircraft available, it is not likely to be used to reinforce the island. C. AIR OPPOSITION (1) Estimated Axis air strength in the Central Mediterranean at the beginning of October. It is estimated that the Axis Air Force in the Central Mediterranean area at the beginning of Octobers will be disposed as follows:L.R.B. B.R. D.B. S.E.F. T.E.F. A.C. COASTAL TOTAL SARDINIA 10 50 5 30 20 30 15 130 SICILY 90 70 30 30 10 100 100 20 10 30 270 220 ITALY 75 100 75 250 (ii) Reinforcements as soon as the approach of the convoy realised So soon as the convoy turns eastward from Gibraltar the Axis will appreciate that a large scale operation is intended in the Central Mediterranean area and that one possible objective is Sardinia.