Another hard days work getting the aircraft ready. Piet van der Merwe and Sandy Joyner have put up a very good show with their gangs in obtaining extra transport for the squadron and making us at last practically mobile. Flew down to base today to organise Headquarters and get them on their way. Found some “flat spinning” but got things organised and informed Flight Giani that rain or shine they had to be on their way by the first day of the new year.
Capt. Piet Carroll left today for the Union after fifteen months in the field. He has put In a wonderful bit of hard work in this squadron and we shall miss him very much.
Routine Order No. 62/42
Wet weather continues and the Landing Ground has now been un-serviceable since the morning of the 26th instant.
Although still very cold, the weather conditions had improved sufficiently to allow an operation to be carried out. The target for this raid was a merchant vessel anchored WEST of SKRADIN, YUGOSLAVIA. The attack took place at 12,000 feet; most of the bombs overshot in the very bumpy weather, but one bomb fell slightly short of the target.
Sortie Report No. 498.
Squadron Routine Order No. 105/43
Squadron Routine Order No. 106/43
12 Marauders airborne from IESI at 11.18 hours to bomb UDINE Marshalling Yards. They set course from FANO with an escort of eight Thunderbolts. The formation was led by Capt. NICOLAY. First box dropped stick from C.415183 to C.417186 – slight undershoot with pattern ending on tracks and Marshalling Yards. Second box also undershot with hits on buildings South of the Marshalling Yards by both boxes. There were fires in target area before bombing and much brown and yellow smoke was observed when leaving target. Heavy ack-ack, intense and accurate from target area just prior to bombing run and following the formation well after turn off. All aircraft were holed but no casualties to personnel. All aircraft landed at base by 14.42 hours.
Sortie Report No. 892.