March 2018 FLYPAST 17of the crews, it was felt outside SRAF
circles that if half of the Spitfires
managed to complete the journey it
could be deemed a success!
Captain John Moss, co-pilot of
the Dakota, noted: “This pessimism
proved an additional incentive and
a challenge to be accepted.” Prior to
departing, the pilots undertook a
period of intense instrument flying on
Harvards. This foresight was to stand
them in good stead.
AFRICAN EPIC
Eleven Spitfires departed Chivenor
on March 14, 1951 in two sections
of four and one of three on the first
leg to Istres, near Marseilles, for a
night-stop. Encountering thick cloud
over central France, Jacklin called
for the first section to separate and
reform above the cloud; two diverted
to Dijon, two pressed on to Istres.
Warned of adverse weather conditions
ahead the following two sections
opted for Dijon. All 11 were re-united
at Istres on the 15th.
From France the Spitfires flew to
Castel Benito in Libya. A refuelling
stop at El Adem, also in Libya,
involved a 30-knot crosswind before
landing at Fayid, Egypt, late into
the evening. At Fayid, the aircraft
were thoroughly inspected by RAF
personnel in preparation for the
journey south.
The next legs were to the Sudan, at
Wadi Halfa and then Khartoum for an
overnight. Juba in Somalia provided
a refuelling stop, although conditions
were primitive. The next stop was
Entebbe, in Uganda.
Shortly after take-off Lt Ossie Penton
noted the radiator temperature gaugein PK576 was ‘off the clock’ and
immediately turned onto a downwind
leg for a return to Juba. The runway
was cleared of idling Spitfires and
moments after touching down on
March 18, the engine seized, caused
by loss of coolant through a failed
hose. A spare engine was eventually
supplied by the RAF in the Suez
Canal Zone and PK576 completed
the journey in April.
For the first time the formation was
separated, with seven Spitfires delayed
at Juba. A section of three continued
to Entebbe where the SRAF Spitfires
were re-united the following day. The
final legs were to Tabora and Ndola,
in Northern Rhodesia.
On the morning of March
22, the ten Spitfires arrived
overhead Cranborne, Salisbury,
to be welcomed by PrimeAbove left
F.22s line up at
Cranborne – Anson in the
background.