In the meantime special efforts were being made by our Equipment Officers to chase up ell outstanding equipment to bring up the squadron to its full establishment. The main source of difficulty appeared to be transport which was not readily available.
Our landing ground seems quite a popular "halfway house" for some pilots – two Hurricanes and a Wellington "dropping in" during the course of the day, one pilot to "enquire the way".
The O.C., Lt. Col. IRVINE, the Adj. Maj. RECK, Engineer Officer Capt. FOGARTY and “T” Stores Officer, Capt. VAN HEERDEN proceeded by plane to L. G. 98 to discuss the lay-out of our camp-site to-be, and other Administrative Matters. They returned to SHANDUR this afternoon.
"A" Flight carried out operational training flights for the major portion of the day.
Lt. W.P. Smyth was posted to Advance S.A.A.F., H.Q. in order to attend a Medical Board. Eight Aircraft carried out a further Raid, Recce of Roads in the SELESNO and CAPAL area, the Aircraft leaving the base at 21.30 Hrs.
23 Marauders airborne from PESCARA to attack enemy strongpoints in the RIMINI sector. First box’s pattern through the centre of target; results of second box not observed due to cloud; third box undershot, pattern finishing just short of target area. 7 x 250 hung-up and brought back. Moderate, inaccurate, heavy A.A. from area. Next three boxes attacked another strongpoint. Pattern of all three boxes well inside the eastern half of the target. Accuurate, heavy A.A. moderate encountered, three aircraft holed. W.O.1. P.M. BASTARD (WT/AG) was wounded by flak and sustained a compound fracture of right elbow, on landing he was taken to 30 M.F.H. Last aircraft down by 18.10 hrs. S.R.825