A hearty cheer from a group of happy looking young men on a lorry early this morning signalled the departure for CAIRO, en route to the Union, of a number of the W/T Air Gunners of the squadron who had served the squadron well through hectic and dark days – many of them young men who had lived a lifetime in a matter of weeks. They had one and all enhanced the name and fame of the S.A.A.F. in the field of battle, and at least one of them – Ken. ("Duppie") Du Pré - was taking back with him evidence of outstanding achievements – the D.F.M.
Although we are somewhat far removed from the theatre of war, we still have some excitement here. Shortly after the departure of the “Union Cases”, a Boston belonging to our neighbours, No. 12 Squadron, was seen to "hit the deck" in a cloud of dust a few miles beyond the edge of our aerodrome. Black smoke began to plume upwards and a light delivery vehicle of this squadron complete with rescue crew set off for the scene of the accident without delay. On arrival the rescue party found great flames enveloping the entire aircraft and in the heat of the blaze, bullets could be heard "popping off". The crew had had an amazing escape all but the pilot escaping with nothing more than a bad shaking. The aircraft, while engaged in low flying and had hit the ground at over 200 m.p.h., and the observer had been hurled out of the broken nose of the aircraft which burst into flame shortly after impact. The pilot and gunners had managed to scramble clear just in time. The entire crew were handed over to the care of "Doc" Donen of Hospital Hill and No. 12 Squadron were advised.