The cold weather seems to have disappeared for the nonce but has been replaced by the awful dust. Dust to be seen and digested to be believed! A new form of “amusement”was found for the long—suffering Marylands today. Yea verily we are now fighters!! We are to patrol in pairs over the sea near DERNA looking for JU52’s en route from CRETE.
It’s a game that like most novelties can be played once with safety but unfortunately on our first show we lost an aircraft. The first pair to leave were Major Mike and Peter Long-Innes, then Capt. Chick Thackwray and Lucy Wood and finally Cormack and Mante.
Our first pair struck trouble and both received a warm if unexpected welcome from cannon shell fire from the 52’s. Mike came home but Peter’s engine petered out and after feathering his prop (port) he limped homewards on his starboard engine and crash landed near the drome. Chick got all the excitement when he attacked 4 52’s with his front guns he shot one down in flames and his rear gunners succeeded in shooting a second down and one other was badly damaged. Lucy fared badly in his attacks and had to limp back to land with his one engine damaged. The last we heard from him was a signal from his aircraft to the effect that he had forced landed one mile NORTH of GAZALA. So that the worst that can have happened is that he is a prisoner of war with his crew but as the land situation is obscure there is a possibility that he is near our forward troops. Yes its another crew gone with two aircraft to be written off. Let’s hope that it’s the last we hear of these stupid fighter sweeps, the Maryland was not built for them.
This afternoon when Peter's kite went out of sight we had the spectacle of several lorries and motor bikes haring out after the disappearing machine to help the crew. On the way thither they disturbed a fox from his lair and we had the novel sight of a of a real desert fox hunt "with his hounds and his horn" – yoicks the poor fox nary had a chance. First the hounds, with Zack Bolshie and Aapie in the lead, then the motorbike brigade, then Buck Sheedy in his L.D.V. and finally the heavy "armament" the F.W.D. and troop carriers. He was finally run down, midst wild excitement by Mac in a three tonner and the proud trophy was brought back to camp by the happy huntsmen – poor Peter was rescued by another party who missed the excitement of the chase!!
So we have lost another crew this time Lucy Wood , Harris his observer and Greenberg and Flemming the gunners– the sole consolation we have from a miserable wasted day was Chick's effort and the solace that the missing crew are either prisoners or on their way to our lines.
Party for bomb unloading of U.S.A.A.F. B 25’s consisting of 6 Armourers, 10 Cape Corps and two trucks with drivers called for by Wing and provided. Parade held at 08.30 and all ranks informed of the orders received from Wing yesterday. Wing advises that owing to the rain, our aircraft will be arriving on the 13th. Instead of tomorrow. The weather is still threatening. Several light showers during night.
Routine Order No. 60/42
One other rank-posted to S.A.A.F. Depot for return to Union on medical grounds.
11-14 December
It rained on and off during this period and no operations were carried out.
Squadron Routine Order No. 97/43
20 ground crew personnel posted R.T.U.
Squadron Routine Order No. 111/44