The new month opened with a feverish digging activity – picks, shovels, crowbars etc were at a premium and slowly but surely 21 Squadron began to emulate the mole family – not to speak of the ostrich and the veritable maze of underground dugouts bore mute testimony to their labours – the coming full moon and the Boche bombers!! The morning was spent in viewing the wreckage of the burnt out JU 88, shot down the previous evening by one of our Hurricanes on the edge of our camp. The 88 is of gigantic proportions and very strongly built. The souvenir hunters were soon on the trail and as the morning wore on each and everyone took the opportunity of adding to his collection of souvenirs.
It was Indeed a wreck strewing the ground for a distance of well over 200 yards, with the engine flung clear of the wreckage some further 100 yards on. The German aviator was burled with military honours at 3 Wing. Padré Davies conducted the service whilst this squadron provided a firing party under Lieut Zackon our worthy defence officer – it was indeed an ironical twist that a Nazi to be accorded the last honours by a Jew!!
At 1500 hours nine of our Marylands took off for a raid on SIDI REZEGH - BELHAMED line. We were escorted by a large number of Hurricanes.The target consisted of well dispersed M.T. and A.F.V's and individual bombing was resorted to.
An appreciable amount of damage was caused and two large fires were started. Permission has been given to ground crews to evacuate at night , if possible, to enable them to obtain a quiet nights rest to freshen them for the morrows labours. It is difficult to sleep well overnight with Jerries stooging around at all hours and disturbing the quiet with an occasionally too near bomb!
The Squadron is now divided into three parties: “A”, consisting of about half of ground staff, “B”, the rest of ground staff and Administrative Section, less 42 details left at L.G.98 with Air crews. “A” and “B” Parties are moving up separately to TMIMI, with “A” two days ahead of “B”.
0900
On arrival at TMIMI, “A” Party received instructions to proceed to SOLUCH and advice that “B” Party would be remaining at TMIMI. In view of the heavy going of the past four days, it was decided to service all vehicles today and leave for SOLUCH early tomorrow.
The weather was bad and only one raid was carried out to-day. In this twelve Baltimores from this Squadron set off at 14.45 hours to attack defended gun positions in areas G. 885200, 890195, 875175, 870182. The first box undershot, and their bombs fell on the Eastern slope of the mountain; the second box hit the Southern portion of the target, bombs exploding in area G. 883183 – G. 875178, one direct hit was noted on the railway.
Sortie Report No. 469