A real summers day for a change and the dust and wind were conspicuous mainly by their absence. Today we had a further most successful raid five of our Marylands joined by four from 12 Squadron set off for BARCE and gave it a real bombing!!
It would appear that at a conservative estimate we destroyed more than fifteen planes on the ground. Grand showing, the squadrons after taking a real tossing are back at their old job. It is really significant that the only time that the squadron takes a bad loss is when it is employed on some job or other for which it is not designed. As a high level daylight bomber the Maryland is supreme and when better bombers are built twenty-one says Glen L.Martin will build ‘em!!
Chick put up a real good show again today, after taking off one of his engines failed so he landed on one engine, go into another aircraft and was on his way to lead the smashing raid!
On landing from todays show the one undercarriage wheel of Henwick’s craft burst and the old Maryland took a header and turned completely over. There was a rendering of metal and glass and we who hurried to the scene feared the worst but after working like demons were relieved to find that no one was injured – truly a miraculous escape!!
Squadron on stand-by for the third sortie today.
0930
Wing instructs: All our aircraft are to return to L.G.98 today and it is unlikely that they will be required until the first week in January. As rain seems likely, they are to take off as soon as possible and not later than 13-30 hours. Flying training will be continued at L.G. 98.
Nil operations. Nothing of note, or unusual, to record.
Squadron Routine Order No. 107/43.