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

Extract for 13th July 1942 - The CR42 Party

[Author believed to be Vivian "Pop" Voss, the Sqn IO]

As a result of the heavy landings last night Wing promised to use other squadrons this morning before us, so as to give our mechs. a chance to inspect the machines this morning. We were officially, however, at 30 mins available from 05.30.

At 13.55 the full squadron, 12 a/c, took off on a scramble over the Alamein box, angels 10. During patrol 11 e/a were counted on L.G. 106. 300-400 MT were seen dispersed in the neighbourhood of 860280 (Matruh 1:500,000). Inside the lip of a great depression, extending from 850284 towards the SW-NE road, a great deal of MT was seen. MT was also parked along the above road, extending for about 20 miles.

A section of the formation was detailed to investigate bomb-bursts and found the bombers to be Kittyhawks. Pryde saw them drop a bomb slap on 3 trucks parked nose-to-nose. The section that went down experienced intense light A/A fire.

At 19.20 the squadron were sent off to protect our troops in the Alamein box from bombers that were reported to be approaching. The squadron was led by Lawrence Waugh and flew in the usual formation, three sections line-abreast, each section in fluid box formation. As no top cover was provided, the squadron had to find its own. Near Alamein 12 bombers were seen in the distance, diving.

Yellow section, led by Ray Connell, was ordered to remain up, while Red and Blue went down after the bombers. These were lost in the haze, which was bad below 5000'. The position of the sun, too, aided them. Shortly after, Ray saw 8 a/c in two boxes of four and thought they were Red and Blue sections. Warning them over R/T that he was about to rejoin them out of the sun, he approached and recognised them as CR42's. He yelled "Help yourself, boys" [ Note: no he didnt - the log has been greatly sanitised!] and climbed in. Ray destroyed one and very probably destroyed another.

Tom Meek claimed his first victim to-day on this operation. Tom could not get his nose down sufficiently to poop at the rear CR42's so picked the foremost of them and let him have it. After glancing round for 109's (who were a pest throughout the operation), Tom looked back and saw a flurry of white water where his 42 went in. Shortly after, Lawrence Waugh's section, further West, saw 5 CR42's flying low over the sea. They promptly tackled them and Lawrence destroyed two and probably destroyed another. Williams, too, knocked his first Iti out of the sky on this show, and saw him plop in the drink.

Staff Hope, further South, was dicing with 109's and was able to claim one probably destroyed. Staff came back on the deck and was subjected to rifle and MG fire. This annoyed him [ I'll bet it did!] and he sprayed an MG pit, silencing the gunners.

Sinclair had extraordinarily bad luck. He got into an ideal position, right behind a CR42, pressed the button, and his guns refused to fire. Marshall and Gaynor also fired but were unable to observe results. Had there been top cover, the bag might have been much bigger. As Connell expressed it, "It was hard to concentrate with 109's on your tail." Over 15 ME109's were seen. They employed their usual tactic, making use of their superior speed and climb, to hit-and-run.