大象传媒

Western desert again. Gambit again, east of Tobruk. Intense operations over Tripolitania, Greece and Crete, Italy, Sicily and Yugoslavia. Rommel and his Africa Corps landed at Tripoli and immediately took on the skeleton force of the desert army which had to withdraw to Tobruk. 73 Squadron and 6 Squadron Desert Air Force evacuated to El Aden and took over the two L.G鈥檚 El Gubbi and Tobruk West in the perimeter. Major General Morshead (Aussie 9th Division) took command and stood on a lorry and said 鈥榯here鈥檒l be no Dunkirk here鈥� as each unit entered the thirty-nine mile perimeter. Every man Jack worked the defences, tank traps were emptied (sand storms had filled them) gun emplacements occupied by our gunners, barbed wire entanglements renewed and all defensive positions ready. The Germans made countless tank and infantry attacks during the nine month siege but failed in all attempts; our twenty five pounders smashed their tanks every time. December 12th the desert army came through from their frontier positions and relieved the port and garrison. The 鈥渟pud run鈥� had kept the Tobruk defenders supplied. Royal Navy and Aussie Navy operated from Alex. Bombed continually by Stukas and J.U 88鈥檚.
During this period the Desert Army had been split. Half transported to Greece for a hopeless campaign that ended in Crete. (I omitted my mate and I had been attached to 6th squadron when we arrived at El Aden). Returned to 680 Squadron and back up the 鈥榖lue鈥� again as usual after returned to base.

Gambut again. The Desert Army line Gazala, Tinimi to Bir-Hacheim, where the Free French took over after trekking from Senegal. The surprise Panzer attack won the ensuing battle at Knightsbridge destroying our tanks, leaving the infantry unprotected and the fall of Tobruk a terrible disaster. We flew many sorties to help the remnants escape, including General Lecleri鈥檚 Free French. Palls of smoke over Tobruk gave us warning to withdraw to the line at El-Alamein, a journey of bombing and straffing.
First sortie each day 5am, flew to Lathe Bizerta, Derna, Tobruk, Bardia, Mersa, Matruh. All L.G鈥檚 are situated along the coast road for convenience of supply.
From June to October 23rd the start of the epic battle. Operated dawn til dusk as usual, despite terrible sand storms. Battle over, the chase of the remnants of the Afrika Korps to Enfidaville- Tunisia where they surrendered and the war ended in Africa.
I could describe all our experiences in detail, but would take too long.
Returned to Helio. by the Desert Road (1,500 miles). Nine days leave in Alex. Dakota to Malta to join 683 Squadron. Sicily invasion over to Taranto. Adriatic coast Termoli to Bologna til end of hostilities in Italy. Operated mainly from the beach at Vasto and Rimini; heavily bombed at the latter. Home via Algiers to Glasgow. Leave, posted to 201 Squadron. Pembroke docks onto RAF Dallabry (Moray Firth). Flew to Norway for survey. On return posted to RAF Kinavady, Northern Ireland. Escorted U-Boats into Londonderry (late to surrender). Posted to Pembroke dock.
Demobbed March 1947 at Kirkham, Lancs. Over 100 days leave, took a long time to adjust to civy street. Six months at Rolls Royce like prison. Forty years with B.R engineers.
To read part one of this story please go to A8016112

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