The Adj. Major O’Brien proceeded to CAIRO to-day on matters of Administrative nature and returned with the news that several more "Union Cases" had "made the grade". Our loyal and hard-working Engineer Officer Capt. "Buck" Sheedy is to leave for the Union on the 22nd inst. and several members of our flying personnel, the S.A.O.A. has agreed, should be returned to the Union on the grounds of operational fatigue. This is certainly an opportune moment for the flying men to get away, as it is doubtful whether the squadron will come into operations for a considerable period, and many would virtually be "wasting their time" in a dust laden atmosphere, conducive neither to good tempers nor their attaining of any degree of flying efficiency.
Night operations which were to have commenced on the 14th. Feb. 43, are still being delayed by the weather. No flying Oprep No.
Sites were allocated by the Adjutant; sections and personnel started to settle down. Vehicles were sent back to assist the rear party. Bad weather hampered all operations.
Eleven Marauders, led by Comm. DIEU, attacked a concentration of Railroad trucks in CONEGLIANO Marshalling Yards, making rendezvous with a fighter escort of six Spits at Porto CORSINI. All bombs of one aircraft hung-up and were jettisoned at sea. The first Box straddled the centre of the Marshalling Yards with numerous direct hits on tracks and large buildings on either side; 2nd Box slight left error, but hits claimed on adjacent sheds;
3rd Box straddled converging tracks in N.E. portion of yards. Target clear of cloud but visibility poor due to ground haze and smoke from previous bombing - large fire at B684008 on arrival. Very slight and inaccurate heavy ack-ack from target area. 16 packets of "Front Post" dropped in target area.
Sortie Report No. 936.