War Diary of 1 Sqn SAAF 1st - 31st July 1942

Extract for 3rd July 1942 - The Stuka Party

During the afternoon the Squadron was informed by 211 Group of a very important job for it in the evening. These are critical days, and the spearhead of the attack is being directed against the bulge at Map Ref 883285 (Cairo Map) in the Alamein line. This line, across the bottle-neck, is our last line of defense.

South African troops are opposite the bulge, and we appreciate it that we should be selected, among all the fighter squadrons, to defend them against Stukas. Our job is straight forward. We are at all costs to prevent the Stukas from dive-bombing our troops. Top cover will be provided by another squadron [ 247 Sqn ].

No 1 is to disorganise the Stukas, regardless of their fighter escort. The Sqn will fly in three sections, Blue, Red and Yellow at intevals approx 150 yds, nearly line abreast, Red leading slightly. Each section in a fluid box formation.

Later: The Sqn is back now, all except Ray Connell, and he was seen to land safely at Burg-el-Arab aerodrome.

Later: Ray has come in now, brought back in an Army truck. He is covered from head to foot in oil and petrol. A single shell [sic] from a Stuka pierced his oil and petrol tanks, the oil and petrol blinding and nearly suffocating him, and then cut a deep groove in one wheel. The undercart collapsed when he landed.

This is the first big operation which the Sqdn has carried out for some months. It is also the first real operation in which our new pilots have ever taken part. Each of them who took part has upheld the traditions of No 1. Every pilot in the formation pays tribute to Major le Mesurier's brilliant leadership. [ "Pop" Voss had a way with words. He obviously realised he was writing this for posterity!]

The CO tally-hoed and the Sqdn went into it, making a starboard beam attack. The Major was the first to draw blood. The Stuka which he attacked exploded and Sinclair had to dodge pieces of it as he flew through the spot where it had been. (For details see Appendix C7)

The results of the operation are as follows:-

Major le Mesurier. (CO & Red Leader)..........1 JU.87B destroyed
Lt Pryde................................................................1 JU.87B destroyed
Lt Biden........................1 JU.87B destroyed, 1 ME109F destroyed
2/Lt Sinclair.........................................................1 JU.87B destroyed

Capt. Metlerkamp.........2 JU.87B destroyed, 1 JU.87B damaged
(Yellow leader)
Lt Maclean...........................................................1 JU.87B destroyed
2/Lt Gaynor.......................................................2 JU.87B's destroyed

Lt Connell............................................................1 JU.87B damaged
(Blue leader)
2/Lt Marshall.......................................................1 JU.87B destroyed
Lt Collingwood...........3 JU.87B's destroyed, 1 ME109f damaged**
Lt Phillips.............................................................1 JU.87B damaged

[**Note: An astonishing feat, especially as "Moon" Collingwood had been violently ill prior to and during the flight and concealed his illness in order to take part.]