The “Benghasi Old Boys"- as many of the crews now call themselves— were assembled for another trip to this port at an extremely early hour, for – before 5 a.m. nine of our machines, headed by Major Fowler were in the air, heading for O.75 where they refuelled and took off again. Bombs were released in the target area shortly after 1000 oclock and by swinging sharply EAST, the formation avoided the heavy a/a which had swung over in misguided anticipation in exactly the opposite direction. The entire formation returned safely only one plane receiving superficial damage from shrapnel which burst to the left of the formation.
A second operation today consisted of a search by two Marylands for two boats understood to be carrying survivors from H.M.S. Latona. Independent searches in two areas were carried out by the planes at different times but neither search proved successful.
One of the Cape Corps details who suffered burns in last night's fire died during the night and was buried in the Field Cemetery near the Landing Ground.
Operations were delayed until 10.00 hours when half-hour shuttle service by the medium bombers commenced.
First raid: Oprep No. 116, Sortie Report and Crew List
Second Raid : Oprep No. 117, Sortie Report and Crew List
Third Raid : Oprep No. 118, Sortie Report and Crew List
Fourth Raid : Oprep No. 119, Sortie Report and Crew List
Fifth Raid: Oprep No. 120, Sortie Report and Crew List
Total of 36 sorties.
In the first raid one aircraft was holed by ack-ack, in the second, the ack-ack was heavy and accurate; Baltimore 141 sustained a direct hit with full bomb-load and crashed in flames. No parachutes were seen to open. The crew consisted of Pilot No. 102682 Captain T. RHODES, Observer No. 103926 Lieut. E.W. HUDSON, W/Op. A/Sgt. HILTON-BARBER and A/Gunner A/Sgt. H. J. STRINGER, all of whom were posted missing although it is felt that there is extremely little likelihood of any of them having survived.
Baltimore 885 sustained a direct hit from ack-ack in the port engine (Cat. two) but returned and landed safely at base; crew uninjured.
The Squadron was complimented by the O.C. Wing by the very effective bombing of the third raid of the day.
Three other ranks (A.I.L.) posted to S.A.A.F. Depot.
The Squadron was on Standby, but later in the day this was cancelled and no operations were carried out.
Squadron Routine Order 81/43