The cold weather is here again and its freezing. The news is good this morning, the jerries seem to be retreating westwards both in Libya and in Russia. Japan seems to be getting real nasty with Uncle Sam and is obviously looking for a scrap.
Our daily show today was with the usual nine Marylands and bombing enemy M.T. on the ACROMA road Junction. 12 were again with us and we had a fighter escort. It was a good show and the bombing was productive of good results. A dump was hit causing a large fire and several M.T. vehicles were also straddled by our bombs. This afternoon three ME 110's came out of the clouds over railhead in a surprise attack and succeeded in setting a petrol bowser alight with a stick of bombs. The ack-ack opened fire and appeared to hit one of the ME’s but they all darted back to cloud cover and were on their way. The weather was perfectly foul this afternoon. Bleak cold wind and the inevitable dust. Returned from L.G.21 with a days work of parcels and the new office. Jerry came over In the early morning and gave the railhead stick.
No. 203493 Lieut. W.J.B. NEL (I) posted to No. 4 Squadron. One other rank posted to S.A.A.F. Depot - non-effective.
Twenty three other ranks (Electricians and Armourers) posted in from S.A.A.F. Depot, being replacements for an even number of Squadron personnel who are posted to S. A. A. F. Depot for return to the Union on expiration of their tour of duty.
Twelve of our aircraft set off at 12.33 hours to bomb concentration areas in the WEST ORSOGNA area. The visibility over the target was bad so the aircraft returned to base having jettisoned their bombs at sea.
Sortie Report No. 475.
Squadron Routine Order. No. 95/43
11 replacements for ground crew arrived. Capt. HILLHOUSE (Armament Officer) posted to 3 Wing, S.A.A.F.
W.O.11 LEIPOLDT (A.G.) posted R.T.U. on medical grounds. 14 details (ground crew) posted R.T.U.