Fittingly or should one say paradoxically, this Sunday was a day of rest – a rest from raids but to our ever willing ground crews it was a golden opportunity to get the aircraft 100% operationally sound. The passage of time – hours, days, weeks, nay even months mean but little in the field and one has often to think hard, or even consult a calendar to find with a shock that it is indeed the day of rest.
Two raids of 18 aircraft each, targets being GHAZAL Station and a Panzer concentration respectively. A pleasing aspect of both raids was that enemy ack-ack appeared to have lost a lot of its former intensity and accuracy.
First raid: Oprep No. 128, Sortie Report and Crew List
Second Raid : Oprep No. 129, Sortie Report and Crew List
In the first raid one of our aircraft did not reach the target:
Shortly after take off Lieut. B. METCALF had trouble with an engine so left the formation to Jettison his bombs in the sea. When over the sea the other engine cut and he force landed in the surf on the beach. The Observer, Sgt. KERR, R.A.A.F., was injured and admitted to 24 M.R.S. Aircraft Cat. three.
The second raid was to discourage an enemy concentration for a counter-attack. Before the aircraft returned, the following signal was received from Adv. Army HQ: "As a result of the last dose, 200 people are coming over with their hands up." The discouragement would seem to have been adequate.
Lieut. J.W. JOHNSON who was wounded on 28.10.42, is posted non-effective to S.A.A.F.Depot. Three pilots, Captain G.J. McBRIDE, Lleuts. B. BLIDEN and J.E. A'BEaR, two Observers, Lieuts. M. E. OWEN-HUGHES and A. ROSE, five Air Gunners, one W/Op. A/Gunner and one other rank posted in from S.A.A.F. Depot.
Six A/Gunners posted in from No. 15 Squadron. No. 103582 Lieut.J.H.BUTLER posted in from S.A A.F. Depot and re-posted to No. 12 Squadron.
A formation of twelve aircraft left at 10.05 hours to bomb railroad Marshalling yards at COLLE FERRO. Bombing from a height of 13,000 feet, the target was straddled; several direct hits being scored.
Sortie Report No. 431.