Tonight provided a perfect "bomber's moon" but, for a change. Jerry left ALEXANDRIA alone tonight and there was no raid warning.Whether this was the "cause celebre" or whether the brilliance of the moon, coupled with the month-end and pay-day had anything to do with it, we do not know but a simple orchestra practice in the open air suddenly developed into a colossal squadron party with community singing, dancing and gambolling in the open in the light of the brilliant moon.
Soon the wild and familiar chant of a Zulu war dance could be heard ringing over the camp while some ex-Natalians got down to a realistic imitation of the dance itself – and it is in the light of the fading moon and with the barbaric chant ringing in our ears that we say farewell to the month of April!!
After three and a half months relative inactivity there is little to comment on in the few happenings of the past month beyond re-iterating the fact that this is a most trying period for many of the “old brigade" – and there are some 170 of them – who came up North with the Squadron when it was originally formed. One cannot help feeling that with the limited manpower possessed by a country like the Union of South Africa, skilled artisan personnel should be employed to the fullest advantage.
Yet for over three months a highly trained and experienced body of men have been virtually "languishing" in our camp here, eager to do their work but finding nothing or very little to do. It is fully appreciated that the whole matter rests on the supply of aircraft, but this still does not dispose of the fact that the best use is not being made of the skilled manpower available.
Every effort is being made to prevent boredom settling down on the entire squadron – the arrival of even the few aircraft loaned to us has made a big difference – but this is a difficult task and it is to be hoped that the aircraft for operational use by this squadron arrive in the near future.