June 2018 FLYPAST 49“The bombs were fused with 16-second delays, but we were using
old stock and unfortunately they did not work. The bombs exploded
on impact causing all our aircraft to be hit”moved to a new airfield at Ikingi
Maryūt to defend the port at
Alexandria and for shipping escort
duties. On the 11th, six detached
forward to Ma’aten Bagush and
two days later were in action for
the first time.
Three Mk.Ifs covered the
battleship HMS Royal Sovereign
and her escorts 160 miles (257km)
north of Mersa Matruh, two
Blenheims chasing Italian Savoia-
Marchetti SM.79 Sparvieros.
Return fire from the tri-motors hit
K7181, and although Plt Off Ian
Swann, Sgt Christopher Burt and
Sgt John Young were seen to bale
out, they were not heard of again.
Piloting K7177, Fg Off Ronald
Le Dieu meanwhile hit an SM.79
which was seen to dive away on fire.
Back over the desert, 55 and 211
Squadrons raided El Gazala on July
15 but L1491, hit by flak, crash-
landed near El Adem where Plt
Off E Garrard-Cole and crew were
taken prisoner.
On the return flight, near Buq
Buq, 55 Squadron’s L4820 was seen
on fire. It crashed with the loss of Fg
Off Michael Fox and his crew. Four
of 211’s aircraft, including L1490
flown by the CO, Sqn Ldr Judge,
had to force-land short of fuel.
Two days later 211 moved to
the coastal airstrip at Qotafiya,
near Daba. Early in the evening of
July 19 it sent nine aircraft to jointen from 55 Squadron to attack
Tobruk.
Six CR.42s intercepted the
bombers off the coast near Marsa
Luch. The Italians claimed one
shot down, while an aircraft from
55 Squadron force-landed near
the port, its crew captured. The
Fiats chased the Blenheims as far
as Bardia and another crew from
55 had to force-land, this time in
friendly territory.
The next day both units again
struck targets in the Tobruk
area in support of a Royal Navy
bombardment. More raids followed
on the night of the 22nd, when 211
lost Sgt Smith and his crew in Mk.I
L6661 at El Adem.Above left
Taxying in the dark
at El Daba for a raid
on shipping in Tobruk
on June 12, 1940, 211
Squadron’s Blenheim
L1481 collided with a
216 Squadron Bombay- with unfortunate
results. E L COOPER
Above
Sand fi lter-equipped
Blenheim with unknown
airman. G WHITTARDBelow
A 45 Squadron
Blenheim makes a low
pass over Fuka’s tented
accommodation.
H TURNER