Capt FENNER, Lieut. PARKES and six N.C.O's – all of the PayStaff S.A.A.F. Headquarters – arrived this afternoon to carry out an audit of pay books in the Squadron. This visit is indeed a welcome one as a number of personnel have queries regarding pay which will now have the favour of a direct reply. Many personnel too have completed or almost completed their old paybooks and the issue of the new type of pay books involves a prodigious amount of work when it concerns 2-300 men.
A list reflecting replacements for this squadron from No. 4 relieving draft has been received to-day. This is rather meagre – only seven details of the above-mentioned draft have been allocated to this unit – but it is of course appreciated that there are several other S.A.A.F. units which have been in operations and which have prior claims for replacement of artisan personnel. In order, however, to achieve the maximum of contentment among the ranks, it is hoped that by the time the squadron returns to operations most of those anticipating their Union leave will have been relieved. It will be necessary of course to have with us sufficient experienced personnel to lead the non-operationally experienced ground-staff in operations, but there should be sufficient of these among the personnel sent to the Union to assist in the assembly and maintenance of our Baltimores there and who will be returning here at an early date.
Eight Baltimores, first aircraft airborne at 2100 hrs (rest at 10 minute intervals) searched, bombed, dropped incendiaries and pamphlets at various points on roads in central SICILY, last night. No results observed, near misses claimed on some roads. Lieut. HAMILTON and crew failed to return. Nothing was seen or heard of the aircraft nor were any W.T. messages picked up.
“Oprep” No. 341, Sortie Report and Crew List.
Another conference was held in the Adjutant’s Office due to certain changes in the personnel for MALTA. All concerned still on stand-by. 6 other ranks posted to Squadron.
Two raids to-day. First raid twelve Baltimores airborne at 09.10 hours to attack gun positions three miles S. of ANCONA Both boxes bombing line astern straddled area as briefed with a long pattern thro' centre. Several explosions and fires with white smoke visible 40 miles away. One aircraft developed engine trouble approaching target, broke formation and brought back bomb load. Moderate, heavy ack-ack from target area, two aircraft holed. Fighter cover provided. Sortie Report No. 764
Second raid twelve Baltis airborne at 13.15 hours to bomb Gun Area S623407 - S630397 - S622394 - S616405 and to drop pamphlets. course of 360 degrees overshot and lateral error to the left in area S599415. Second box owing to confusion in the identification of CAMERANO and OSIMO towns made a left hand weave after crossing the coast and released bombs from 12,300 feet on a course of 310 degrees on what was believed at the time to be the briefed target. Stick fell in area S563333 as confirmed by photographic evidence about 1000 yards inside bomb line. Results not observed in both cases. Heavy ack-ack, slight, inaccurate after turn off target. Visibility hazy. Sortie Report No.765.