Led by the Officer Commanding, nine of our Marylands carried out a successful raid to-day on GAZALA (South) Landing ground. Although the attack was carried out at high level, the results were most gratifying and fires were started, the smoke from which was visible for a considerable time after the departure of the planes. There was no serious interference on the part of the enemy — a fighter did approach one flight but apparently thought better of it - and the crews returned full of smiles.
Lt. Col. Davis who was visiting the squadron from our wing, (No. 261 S.A. Wing) witnessed the takeoff and return of the machines and was shown the various sections of the squadron at work during the course of the day. Various aspects of the squadrons activities, operational and administrative, were discussed with Lt. Col. Davis.
The Medium Bombers are running a half-hour shuttle service in support of the army today and the Squadron did a total of 49 sorties:
First Raid: Oprep No. 101, Sortie Report and Crew List
Second: Oprep No. 102, Sortie Report and Crew List
Third: Oprep No. 103, Sortie Report and Crew List
Fourth: Oprep No. 104, Sortie Report and Crew List
Fifth: Oprep No. 105, Sortie Report and Crew List
Sixth: Oprep No. 106, Sortie Report and Crew List
On the Third Raid an Observer, No. 102198 Lieut. J. W. JOHNSON was wounded. The rest of the crew were uninjured but the aircraft, Baltimore 870, had to forced land at L.G. 172 owing to shrapnel damage to an engine. On the fifth raid, eleven out of the twelve Baltimores of the Squadron were holed by ack-ack. Of these one suffered category two damage.
Colonel J.H.MARTIN,O.C. No. 3 S.A. Wing, congratulated the Squadron on the day's effort and some very effective bombing. Excluding the aircraft which forced landed at L.G. 172,our aircraft averaged ten holes each from ack-ack on the day’s raids. We have the most serviceable aircraft (17) in the Wing tonight.
2330
We are reminded that the Luftwaffe is still operating: a lone Ju. 88 paid the vicinity a visit and, having put down a flare South-East of the Landing Ground, dropped a couple of 100 kilos and some anti-personnel bombs at 12 Squadron where a tent in the Cape Corps lines and some of the occupants suffered direct hits.
A start was made on establishing the Camp; tents were pitched and all Sections cooperated in an effort to organise the Squadron as quickly as possible.