The Squadron was to-day visited by Air Vice Marshal K. B. Park, D.F.C., Air officer Commanding Egypt. In conversation with Lt.Col. Irvine, the Air Officer Commanding expressed his satisfaction at the layout of the squadron's camp, made enquiries as to any difficulties we may at present be experiencing and assured us that efforts would be made to get us some aircraft, enabling the pilots to keep their hands in pending the arrival of our own aircraft. The A.O.C. endorsed some of our own views when he expressed the opinion that he was not in favour of the vast amount of correspondence employed to-day in the administration of the Air Force.
In the absence of aircraft sport is becoming the main interest of the squadron at present, and after considerable net practice yesterday, a representative cricket team was sent over to Base Camp, S.A.A.F. to do battle. We were badly beaten on the concrete pitch at the Base Camp and our cricket enthusiasts are now setting about the construction of a concrete pitch in our own camp.
No operational flying today. Oprep. No. 222.
No. 3 Wing and 12 Sqn convoys arrived at 0400 hrs. this morning. The men are all busy digging themselves in. This is easy here as the sand is very soft. The camp is completely erected by this evening. The soft sand makes it very necessary to keep vehicles out of the camp area so a line of T tins is being put round the camp to keep them out. A trading post has been established and the Messes therefore have a plentiful supply of eggs.
Lts BREYTENBACH and COHEN who had been buying liquor for the Squadron in TRIPOLI joined us on the way through and the booze is much appreciated.
Major HUNT who leaves tomorrow, has a PARTY.
A large proportion of the living tents were flooded owing to heavy rain the previous night. It was not unusual to see occupants with all their earthly possessions surrounding them, sitting dejectedly outside their tents having been completely “washed out”. The Post Office and S.A.A.F.I. tents were both completely flooded. However bright sunshine soon restored conditions to normal.
Twelve Baltimores set off to bomb FABRIANO Marshalling Yards. After rendezvous with 223 Squadron (leading) attacked in two boxes. The first box undershot and the pattern extended just short of the station, while the second box overshot with long pattern ending into the middle of the town. No hits on target claimed which was obscured by pall of smoke, presumably from bombing of 223 Squadron, and three explosions and fires were observed in the Marshalling Yards. All aircraft returned by 13.35 hours, one sustaining slight prop damage on landing. No enemy opposition was encountered.
Sortie Report No. 583
Two Baltimores took off at 12.15 hours to drop Russian and Italian pamphlets. After rendezvous with 4 Spitfires they flew to predetermined points in enemy territory in ITALY and dropped the pamphlets. Heavy Ack Ack, intense, inaccurate was encountered from CHIETI are and from C1214; one aircraft being holed. They landed back at base at 14.45 hours. Sortie Report No. 584.
F/Sgt Robbertse, the W.T./A.G who baled out of his aircraft on the second instant, returned to camp.