Our O.C. has been instructed to proceed to 12 Squadron on attachment for to gain operational experience. It is hoped that he will soon return to us and lead his squadron into operations when our aircraft are ready for service. He has welcomed the new crews into the happy family that is squadron twenty one and we trust that he will soon see the fruits of his labours when the squadron strikes the foe once more.
Another big flap this morning. The squadron is to provide 100 men fully armed with one days rations and kit to proceed to MARIYUT for defence against paratroops. The 100 men were finally obtained after tremendous struggle leaving a mere handful of men in camp. It is appreciated that when “needs must” then every man to the defence, but surely it is a blunder to take artisans and airmen, who are not trained in the use of weapons let alone the specialised training required to deal with airborne assaults, place weapons in their hands and require them to become infantrymen, more particularly as there are thousands of infantrymen in the area!
The position has been fully explained to higher authority and the question of defence of our own camp and landing ground becomes impossible with this number of men left in camp. In the late afternoon the men were transported by lorry to the landing ground at MARIYUT situated near ALEXANDRIA the landing ground is mosquito infested and the boys had quite a few bites to show the next morning.