Another bitterly cold day. The daily hun recce aircraft was over again today and our ack-ack and Bofors opened fire on it but it got away safely.
Today’s show was with six unescorted Marylands, relying entirely on cloud cover, in search for enemy forces in TOBRUK – DERNA area – real "Tiger" country, where the ME’s prowl about seeking their prey. The sea route over the gulf of BOMBA was taken but as the cloud base was from 0 to 1000 feet inland, and the higher clouds too scattered to afford adequate cover, the show was abandoned.
Heard the heavy tidings that our gallant 5th brigade had suffered severe casualties in the SIDI REZEGH area against the Panzer divisions. The Nazi propaganda machine was going full blast in Afrikaans this evening and poor old General Smuts and his loyal supporters will doubtless have another tirade of abuse flung at them by the opposition at the next sitting of Parliament. The jerries were over again during the night but their bombs fell far away from the camp.
No. 103449 Lieut. H. A. PUTTOCK and No. 178697 Lieut. P. S. ASHTON posted in from S.A.A.F. Depot.
0900
Conference at Wing regarding instructions for movement of "A" Parties to TMIMI.
1300
"A" Party Convoy (34) vehicles pulled out for TMIMI and reached SIDI-EL-RAHMAN by sunset and camped for the night.
The weather was excellent for flying to-day and the Squadron carried out three raids. In the first, the aircraft took off at 08.52 hours to attack enemy positions EAST of LANCIANO. The leader, afraid he was overshooting, did a dummy run, then turned and bombed on the second run; the second box bombed on the first run up. Heavy Ack Ack was encountered and the Spitfires covering the formation dived and stopped the firing.
Sortie Report No. 464
The target for the second raid was road and railway EAST of CASTEL FRENTANO. The first box slightly undershot while the second box hit the Eastern portion of the target. Heavy Ack Ack was encountered at LANCIANO on the return to base, three aircraft being holed, one of which was so badly damaged it force landed on the landing ground. The pilot, Lieut. Wood made and excellent landing in the circumstances, and though wounded, immediately staggered out of the plane and attempted to remove his crew; the Observer and Gunner were found to be dead, the second gunner seriously wounded, died the same night.
Sortie Report No. 465
Six aircraft took off at 14.44 hours to bomb positions in the area H. 268985. A dummy run was made as the target was not immediately identified, the bombing taking place during the second run. Most of the bombs fell on the WEST side of the road.
Sortie Report No. 466
Another six planes left at approximately the same time to attack defended positions EAST of GUARDIAGRELE. Bombs fell in a straggling pattern, the majority on the NORTH side of the road , but some direct hits were obtained.
Sortie Report No. 467
The funeral of Lieut. I. Robertson, Lieut. F. Hanning, F/Sgt. De Piesanie and F/Sgt. Valentine (R.A.F.), the crew of the aircraft which crashed yesterday, took place at FOGGIA to-day.