Two Jerry recce aircraft were overhead again today and although the ack-ack opened up at them they got away safely. Today’s show with the bombing of M.T. and Tanks North West of EL ADEM. Nine Marylands took part with good results. Several fires were started as the results of direct hits. On the return home a formation of ten enemy bomber escorted by fifteen enemy fighters were seen heading Westwards.
Today was another prize parcel day when the lorries from L.G. 21 brought 57 bags of parcels – and the cookhouse was not as popular as usual with the number of jaded appetites in camp!! The Jerries were stooging around all night and one bomb fell on the outer perimeter of the camp.
Instructions issued by Wing for “B” Parties to move to TMIMI and for “A” Parties, on arrival there, to be sent on to SOLUCH. “A” Party camped on the second night of its journey at SIDI BARRANI.
The Signals Section has separated from the convoy and is following with instructions to catch up by tomorrow night’s camp. Two vehicles of the Photographic Section save been left under guard along the road. These are (1) the tender-trailer which has broken a torsion bar and (2) the charging plant– two-wheel trailer – of which the tow-bar is cracking. Arrangements have been made for both trailers to be salvaged by “B” Party at L.G. 98. In view of the move, all flying training is suspended at present.
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 an 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. 466Another 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. 467The 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.