Spent the morning in travelling to historic TOBRUK. We had the privilege of seeing for our ourselves what the town had withstood. All our pre-conceived notions were upset– the outer perimeter defences cover an area of somewhat near 100 square miles and the town of TOBRUK is not the little fortress we had pictured but a fair sized town – battered and shelled but undaunted!!
The harbour is full of shipping, above and below water! with some Itie stuff predominating. No shows these last few days, we have been informed that we are the "chosen people" – to continue this campaign with our Marylands and those of 12 squadron.
The weather is becoming very wet and cold but the boys are knuckling down to hard work servicing the aircraft. Capt. Fogarty attached to us from Wing is on a roving commission patching up our aircraft on the neighbouring dromes.
In the early hours of the morning, it started to rain.
By daylight, the camp was under water and most tents had been flooded. As the ground-surface is pure clay, the only vehicles which could travel without bogging were the two Jeeps which were sent on the ration run to BENGHASI.
There was no flying at L.G. 98 – Op rep No. 146
The rain, which had started the previous night, continued throughout the day making conditions difficult and most unpleasant. In the early afternoon a formation took off to attack a merchant vessel near PREKO Harbour, but after eleven aircraft had become airborne, they were recalled owing to the bad weather.
Twelve Marauders airborne from IESI Landing Ground at 11.43 hours led by Capt. NICOLAY to bomb CASTEL FRANCO VENETO Marshalling Yards. Fighter escort comprised six Mustangs. First box straddled the Western end of the Yard with direct hits on buildings North and South of the railroad line, and large explosion with orange smoke at G.388771. Bombs of the leader of the second box fell 8 to 10 seconds after release, causing the whole box to overshoot by about 2,000 yards in open field. Heavy ack-ack, slight, inaccurate, encountered when crossing coast North of VENICE on return. All aircraft landed by 14.35 hours. Sortie Report No. 889.