Had the pleasure of a visit from Col. Hingeston S.A.O.A. accompanied by Major Treadwell. Todays raid was one of the most smashingly successful, our squadron has had. Seven Marylands led by Capt. 'Chick’ Thackwray took part in a raid on DERNA Landing Ground. There were about 90 enemy aircraft on the landing ground, mainly JU 52's and they were not dispersed. Our bombs found their mark and eight direct hits on aircraft were obtained. Many large fires were started and apparently a large dump was set alight.
It was a Jolly good show and the old squadron spirit and the motto 'Onoorwinlik' is really reasserting itself.
In the late morning after the aircraft took off Col. Hingeston left on his way to CAIRO but immediately after taking off from the drome his engine cut and he was compelled to make a force landing in the bundu. He made a good landing and returned with Major Treadwell to camp.
Buck and his gang were on their way and the Gull was towed back to camp. It would appear that there was a goodly percentage of paraffin in the fuel drums and this caused the engine failure. On examination was found that several drums had this fault. Query – are these drums being filled by Gippos? One shudders to think what accidents could be caused by a band of these known "Fifth Columnists" meddling with aviation fuel!!
At 1600 hrs two Marylands took off on a ship recce near BARDIA and returned just after 1720 without locating the ship — sounds like the old elusive ship that haunted our earlier activities.
Cold and dust in the afternoon and an early bed after a real old sing-song, to make us warm and thereafter an undisturbed night. My idea of heaven at the moment!!
So the treacherous yellow livered and skinned Japs have taken the plunge. They will live to rue the day that they hitched their war wagon to Hitlers waning star!!.'
Having been on the U.K. Army ration basis since arrival here, there have been loud complaints of the insufficiency of food. When Balti. 693 arrived with a load of extra food, this shortage was relieved and the position is relieved for the next few days. Work on the landing ground continued.
The weather was excellent thus enabling the Squadron to carry out two raids. In the first the formation took off at 08.42 hours to attack troops and guns in the area WEST of MIGLIANICO. Intense heavy Ack Ack was encountered resulting in the first box breaking formation when one aircraft turned over and went into a spin; consequently only three aircraft in this box bombed over the target area, the others jettisoned their bombs. The aircraft which started its spin from approximately 14,000 feet, was pulled out again at about 8,000 feet and returned to base safely. The second box obtained direct hits on two Batteries also on road and railways in the target area.
Sortie Report No. 476.
In the second raid of the day the aircraft left base at 14.09 hours to again attack positions WEST of MIGLIANICO – the same target that was attacked in the morning. Bombs burst slightly EAST of the centre of the target area. Very accurate, heavy Ack Ack was again encountered, six aircraft being holed.
Sortie Report No. 477.