Lt. Col. Pretorius arrived back from CAIRO this morning with the necessary permission and shortly before eleven o'clock took his farewell of the squadron, formed up in a little square about their Officer Commanding. In his farewell address, Lt. Col. Pretorius thanked the squadron personnel for their loyalty and support through many difficult days – he was satisfied he said that there could be few Commanding Officers who had had the privilege of leading such an outstandingly loyal and hard-working band of men. To the ground personnel, in particular he said went the highest praise and thanks. They had maintained the aircraft and kept them in the air and the pilots all fully realised this to-day. He hoped that they would all meet soon again in perhaps happier circumstances than these but whatever happened, he concluded, the loyalty and devotion shown by all about him at the present moment, would forever be remembered by him.
Three rousing cheers, speedy handshakes and our popular "Kernel Oh See" had taken his seat in the pilot's cockpit of the aircraft that was to bring him to the Union. Flying with him and acting as second pilot in the Observer’s cockpit was Peter Long-Innes one of the outstanding members of our flying personnel. Assisting in the ferrying of the aircraft to the Union was Tom Earnshaw, acting as Wireless Operator, while "Bob" Giani. Flight Sergeant of Headquarters Flight completed the crew. The engines roared to life, the hood on the pilot cockpit closed, a cheery "thumbs up" from the squadron, and the last of our Blue-bellied Marylands (the others had been flown to A. A. D. the previous day) turned into wind and took off in a cloud of dust.
The squadron watched the aircraft fade away to nothing in the clear skies, some of us with wistful looks, perhaps, but all with the best wishes in their hearts for those aboard. Au revoir, Col. Jan, and the best of good luck!
The thoughts of your squadron – the squadron you built and made – are with you. We will not easily forget a man who understood men, a leader who really appreciated what we were fighting for and who put all his efforts behind that object.
The bonds of friendship your leadership has brought to us all will remain ever with us and when the days of peace are upon us again we will then, perhaps even more than now, appreciate the happiness your association with this squadron brought to us all……
Pilots Order No. 1/43
No operational flying: Oprep No. 199
Following on the posting of six air crews to S. A. A. F. Depot for R.T.U., the remaining crews have been shuffled and aircraft re-allocated. Crew Lists “A” and “B” Flights.
47309 Lieut. B. DEMMER (Pilot), 206256 Lieut. F. W. HANNING (Observer) and one other rank (W/Op-Gunner) posted in from S.A.A.F. Depot. Wing enquired whether the landing ground would permit of operations tonight. A taxying trial was made and resulted in the aircraft being bogged twice in less than 100 yards, on the runway. Another trial will be made tomorrow morning.
When the Squadron left L.G.98, it was considered that Baltimores could not be used for night operations and Wing instructed that our Chance Light should be handed over to S.A.A.F. Depot for safe-keeping. It was necessary to borrow a Chance Light for night-flying training and the operations from GZINA were from the same flare path as used by the other Squadrons in the Wing.
After the marked success of the GZINA effort, It is necessary to re-equip for night-flying, now that we are operating from a separate landing ground. A Chance Light has been borrowed from 31 R.S.U. and our Electricians have scrounged material, mostly Italian, for flare-path requirements. As soon as the landing ground is serviceable, night operations are to commence.
Twelve Baltimores took off at 08.45 hours to bomb mechanical Transport and supply dumps. Heavy and accurate A.A. was encountered from the time the bomb line was crossed. Both boxes dropped their bombs in the target area, but no results were observed. Due to various causes three aircraft jettisoned their bombs in enemy territory on the homeward journey. Due to engine trouble one aircraft had to land at MARCIANISE, returning to base later in the day.
Sortie Report No. 555.
A second raid was carried out in the afternoon and this time the target was the village of CARROCETTA, in ITALY. The first box bombed slightly to the WEST of the target. Some sticks fell partly in the village and a few direct hits on the railway. The second box bombed in a short stick directly on the target. On account of smoke and dust, no results could be observed. All the aircraft landed safely at POMIGLIANO (NAPLES) as a precautionary measure against possible shortage of fuel in reaching base. The two boxes became separated soon after take off and carried the whole raid individually. Heavy, concentrated A.A. was encountered. Sortie Report No. 556