Adjutant, two officers and 2 N.C.O.'s departed for Mombasa to make arrangements at the ship for accommodation etc.
NOTE: It was difficult to obtain accurate records of the Squadron during this period as the Squadron was moving in several separate sections, viz. by boat, and by air, in three separate flights. Also some personnel by JU52. All these movements however constitute the main movement of the Squadron to M.E.
Capt. Van HEERDEN, or “T"-man, set off with a small number of trucks to collect additional tentage which had been left as mess-tents etc. for squadrons moving in at our former landing ground. It had been learned that these tents were not being used and they were therefore to be collected together with equipment which was being guarded by a small party left behind at L.G. 98.
0220
Night raid by four Baltimores in SCIACCA L.G. The Commanding Officer was the pathfinder and dropped flares over the target. Very little A.A. and only one search light seen. Weather very hazy over target.
“Oprep” No. 329, Sortie Report and Crew List.
Lt. CLUTTERBUCK was taking off on the above raid when his aircraft began to swing to the left just before becoming airborne. It swung off the runway and collided with a JU 52 parked in the dispersal and ended up some distance beyond the 52. The Baltimore burst into flames and the bombs exploded soon afterwards.
The crew had already escaped or been rescued from the aircraft before the bombs exploded.
Lt. CLUTTERBUCK received 3rd degree burns to his arm. Lieut. van der MEULEN was seriously injured and his left lower leg had to be amputated. F/Sgt. CARBARNS died of injuries and F/Sgt. RAEBURN escaped uninjured. The funeral of F/Sgt. CARBARNS took place this afternoon in TUNIS.
18 other ranks posted to S.A.A.F. Base Depot for R.T.U.
One raid to-day. Eleven Baltis took off at 08.05 hours (one returned with bomb load after rendezvous owing to engine trouble to bomb a fuel dump and suspected Headquarters. (Area Q627762, Q640766, Q634757). First box, owing to mistaken identity, bombed area Q530700 on a course 310 degrees just South of VINCI. No results observed. Second box bombed on a course of 030 degrees; two explosions with white and brown smoke. Heavy ack-ack, intense and accurate from POGGIBOASI to target and until bomb line crossed. Eight aircraft out of ten holed. One pilot, Lieut. BRUNETTE very slightly wounded before target in hand but carried on, stayed with the formation for the bombing and landed safely with the
Formation. Sortie Report No. 754.
Nothing of Squadron routine importance to record.
Squadron Routine Orders Nos. 65/44 & 66/44