Diary of Garth Edward Sommerville Clabburn - 1942-1944 - Part 9

on the ground. We have just received

news that 14 enemy A/C were destroyed

on the ground in yesterday morning's

attack, & the army sent along their congrats.

Evidently the army have occupied these

dromes & will have to watch out they

do not get off by the 21st Panza

Division. There was heavy Ack/Ack this 

morning & thick ground mist but nobody

was hit. My 500th bomb landed near

an E.P.I. Today is fearfully hot &

I have spent a few hours reading &

washing my hair and face. Am now

off again on yet another job. The

time is now 11.55 A.M.

We dive bombed 106 aerodrome & two

of them landed right amongst about

12 1095 in line, I, like a fool bombed

a large A/C near the road & it turned

out to be a Wellington that had been

left during the retreat. However I

missed it & I think did great

damage to the old railway station.

We went & came home fast & were

not attacked by E/A. but got a bit

of heavy Ack/Ack which was very 

inaccurate. I saw a small boat on

the sea from 12000' ft & a great

patch of oil, & think that the noise

we heard early this morning must have

been a naval battle. The boys have

now gone off to bomb & staff M.T.

concentrations just Nth of the road West

of Daba. I think they will strike tighter

opposition this trip. Time now 15:30 hrs.

They all got back. Did another dive

bombing at about 5 P.M. & we

managed to plant them right in a very

heavy & badly dispersed enemy concentration

of about 500 vehicles. We were all

very pleased with the results.

All the boys came across from 112 & 480

Squadrons this evening & I had drinks

& yarned with Thomas, Atherton, & Oneill.

They were all well & seemed far

happier about the air fighting than

they had been at Al Balah.

[*7th July 1942*]

Rose early & did bombing Job on 

same target. Not such good results

as stuff was badly more widely

dispersed. Did another job later in 

day & started two large fires. Captain

Frank Hurley has been with us 

for two days now & has taken

more shots at us taking off &

landing after jobs & also of loading

of bombs & other front line things.

Two or three W.B.A. newspaper men

have been here today & have been

squeezing stories from the boys.

They are likable fellows.

Jerry now seems to dug

in & may be contemplating some

new cunning & bold move.

The colonial troops have been

doing some hard work with poor

weapons & are tough men.

[*8th July 1942*]

I think it was today that we had

a very successful dive bombing

attack on the enemy dromes West of 

Daba. The boys shot several down

who were in their circuit & in all

about 12-14 were destroyed.

[*9 July 1942*] 

Made more dive bombing jobs

top cover 1st time & bombed moving

transport at El Alamein.

[*10th July*]

Did dive bombing job in early morning.

We went right up past Daba with 450 sq.

& came in from 17000' from sea. Had a 

good smack at many E/A on dromes &

set 2 on fire. It must have shaken

them for we dropped 20 bombs. All the

way back we straffed big colomes & did

much damage. The afternoon was the 

very opposite for we bathed at Stanley

Bay & spent a very peaceful time

drinking tea at a charming Russian

lady's home surrounded by a beautiful

garden. Went to the Carlton Club in

the evening & had dinner & drinks.

Allan Dougal & three others were along.

We slept at the Borban pub.

[*11th July 1942*]

Returned to camp at 10 A.M. after

having bought watch for Coral & sent

E.F.M. No more jobs this day for us

although there was much air activity

& the A.I.F. & N.Z'ers took 1500 prisoners &

advanced 6 miles.

[*12th.*]

Up at 4:30 A.M. & did armed recco &

bombed M.T. Much ACK/ACK & Jack

ONeill's kite was hit. Saw tanks

& could not identify. Wrote Coral

this day for I received a great letter

from her last night. Also wrote

Mrs Dora with whom we took tea

in Alex. Kildu's show today bombed 

& destroyed a Storch at Daba as it

was landing & it may have contained

General Rommel — Hope so. There was 

very heavy ACK/ACK during this "do" but

our 7 A/C returned. 

The tank busters went out after the

tanks I had reported but failed to

find them for they left it until 4

hours after my report going through.

Heavy dust storm in afternoon. A little 

Chaplin picture was shown in the mess

during the evening.

[*13th July 1942.*]

Escorted tank busters out El

Amin & they knocked out 4. We

bombed M.T. & received heavy ACK/ACK.

One tank buster was hit & crash

landed. The pilot is safe & the A/C

was burnt. During evening led out top

cover for dive bombing job on enemy

tank Hq. just sth at main road at

El Alemein. The concentration was heavy

& ACK/ACK teriffic — All got back but

Allan Dougals kite was hit in wing.

There is a big battle brewing &

there was heavy shelling on ground this

day. I think that Jerry will put over

a tremendous effort to break through

& may succeed.

[*14th July.*]

Tis now the 16th & I cannot remember

what took place on the 14th July.

[*15th July*]

We had only 4 serviceable A/C at dawn

& they went out to bomb M.T. in

the Alemein area. Allan Dougall

did not return. He was in position

at the beginning of the dive but

was not seen afterwards. His motor

had been overreved the day previous

& may have failed causing him

to force land. He may turn

up yet.

At midday we went S.W. escorting

the tank busters. We found scattered

groups of a Jerry panza division

& bombed & straffed. The results

were not good for the ACK/ACK was

very disconcerting. One T.B. crashed

but I saw armoured cars around

him & think they were ours. His

plane seemed to have belly landed

quite safely.

Went to Alex in evening with Garth

ONeill, Stevenson, Bullwinkle &

Scribner. Three of us spent the

evening very enjoyable at Mr & 

Mrs Darra's home & slept at 

Bonnard Hotel.

[*16th July 1942*]

Returned to camp at 7 A.M. feeling

a little refreshed. Still no news of

Allan & I am worried for his safety.

Led top cover out to bomb enemy.

positions in El Alamein box with

good results. I forgot to mention

that yesterday Garth ONeill shot

down a 109F that attacked him

after he had bombed. No — it

was on the 14th that this took

place after we had been bombing 

The El Alamein box. He had a sick

kite & was behind the formation.

There has been great activity this day.

Did late bombing job with 450 sq. & there

was a tremendous battle raging below

& much shelling & many fires. The dust

was very thick on landing. The C.O.

received the D.F.C. today.

[*17th.*]

Enjoyed a fair night's sleep but am of

late worried a great deal with

nightmares, & invariably wake up once

during the night in a fearful sweat.

Am on the early job & watched 18 Bostons

go off at about 7:30 A.M. Jerry made

a very heavy push from 6 PM till

10 P.M. yesterday & there were great 

losses on both sides. I believe

we destroyed about 20 enemy xxx tanks

during the day's fighting.  We have

only 7 AC servicable & I am really testing

V on this next job for she has been sick

ever since we received her.

We should be receiving a little mail soon.

Did not get off on the job but took

an A/C of 450 sq's to base. Enjoyed

the trip very much & spent time flying

between & around the pyramids & also

had a look at some bright red

salt lakes. There was no A/C to bring

back so went swimming at Mena

with Peter Ewing. Went to Casa during

evening with P/O Lambie & had great

fun with few S.A. W.AAF's. stayed at

Grand Hotel. Had previously fixed up

several things for the boys at the base.

[*18th July.*]

Rose at 7:30 AM & after breakfast bought

three records for the mess. Returned to 

camp in about 7 different trucks

arriving at about 11:30 A.M. immediately

found a 450 kite to take to A.L.G.

Sgt's Woods A/C seized up after take-

off but he managed to make the 

drome. Another crash landed. I flew

to A.L.G. through a blinding dust storm

& to the surprise of many, made it.

No flying during the afternoon.

[*19 July.*]

Rose early & was taken off the

early job. A great "balbo" 80 fighters

& 20 Bostons went off to dive bomb &

straff No. 21 landing ground just west of 

Dara. It was a very successful job &

many E/A were destroyed. No flying in

the afternoon for there was another

dust storm blowing. I have been

doing quite a deal at trench digging

to keep fit. Have had several

letters from Billy & also a very nice one

from Alice Broughton. There is still

no news of Allan Dougall & I fear

the worst happened. Tonight I wrote 

to his girl in England & also dropped

a photograph of Fred Ryan to his

girl in Cairo.

[*20th July.*]

Rose at 5AM & carried out a dive 

bombing & recco job well over the

enemy lines. Went with a big

wing "balbo" at 9:30 A.M. to Fuka

drome. It was a long trip & we 

destroyed many E/A. Macchi A/C

took a toll at 3 of our kites

including W/C Myers. He will be

a great loss to the A/F in general

& 239 Wing in particular. He was

shot down close to Tuka Drome

& about 100 miles inside enemy

territory.

Recieved very fine letters from

Margaret Davis this day. She is

a very dear girl & very true to 

me & I wholly appreciate her sin-

cerity.

I got nearly 3 hours up today, &

now have over 30 opps hours for

the 19 days of this month — which

is pretty good going considering

that each sortie usually takes

only 50-60 mins, & is packed

with excitement. A great & bloody

battle raged all day yesterday &

N.Z. losses were heavier than in

Creto. When will all this useless

slaughter end?

[*21st. July.*]

Long range desert group went out to 

try & find W/C Mayers DSO but to date

there is no news of him. I think that

he would be foolish to try & walk Sth.

not knowing that there were fellows

trying to find him, for he may die

of thirst. We did one job this day

& were relieved early because of dust

storms.

[*22nd July.*]

We bombed the German Box to help

the Aussies out for they were to push

in the evening. The bombing was fair

& fires were started. One at 450 sq.

went into a spin over the target &

had to bail out. He may have been

hit by "flack" for I saw him float through

a great cloud of it. We could not

see him stand up after landing. He

is a sure P.O.W. The army gained

a few successes this day. 

I went to town in the evening &

had a swim & a cup of tea with

the charming Mrs Dorra & Mrs Alice. Went

to see "Sth of Tahiti" & had a really 

good laugh.

[*23rd July.*]

Did good bombing & straffing job on 

Western Road. Two fires from straffing.

Tank Busters went out but could not

find target. Allisen engine experts here

in mess today & we had a good

old yarn.

[*24th July.*]

Dug and wrote in morning. There was 

a very big "balbo" today on 21 & 106

landing Grounds & I think it was

quite successful. Garth Neill scored

a direct hit on a JW88.

[*25th July.*]

John Bray & I went off to Alexandria

for 48 hrs leave. Went to theatre in

evening & to Mrs Waughs home for

supper. We were very welcome & decided

to stay the night & did not leave

until after lunch the following day.

[*26th July.*]

That was incorrect — we visited Mrs

Dorra about 11 A.M. but found her

not very well & consequently did 

not take her swimming with us

at Stanley Bay. I went to Sidi 

Bish with Claire during afternoon &

enjoyed more swimming & a good

afternoon tea turned on my a 

Swiss girl friend of Claire's. Went

again to Mrs Waugh's home where

I met John & many Fleet Air

Arm pilots. They were a very young

crowd of fellows & not at

all like we Aussies. We slept

at Tomahawk House.

[*27th July*]

Met some of the boys here & returned

to the squadron at about 9 A.M.

I unfortunately became ill & had to

be sent off to hospital where I spent

a very boring time & managed to 

rejoin the Squadron on 12th 

August.

[*13th August*]

The whole wing had stood down

for a 14 day break on the first &

were to commence opps again 21st.

The remaining week was to be devoted

to the training of many new pilots.

All the pilots enjoyed a week on leave

most of them going to Palestine

staying in Jerusalem & Tel Aviv

& the remainder stayed in & around

Alexandria. It was quiet like

coming home getting back with the

boys & I or they were sorry I

had missed spending the leave

with them. However I am to have a 

few days down at the beach at

our new rest camp. Five of 

us are pushing off tomorrow.

News has arrived through the Red Cross

that Norman is a P.O.W. This is good

for we all feared that he had gone

down in flames. Fox is to return

to Australia to have his face fixed up,

& there are whispers about that 3 sq may

be going that way this side of Xmas.

I think it highly improbable that

the Air Board could withdraw just 

the one Squadron from the M.F. when

there are so many Aussi personel

over here in various squadrons. So 

will believe that we are going home

when I the Australian coastline

on the horizon.

[*14th August 1942.*]

The first rest camp crew was comprised

of Danny Boardman, Huck Finlayson, John

Hook, Jack Donald, Stephens, Glendinning,

After erecting the E.P.I. we fixed a grand

mess in a new concrete strong post & went

swimming. The beach & sea life is the clearest

I have ever seen & we could not have

picked a better spot. We have along a 

good cook & a couple of stewards &

they are doing a grand job & have fixed

up some good meals.

I went to town with the boys & met

John Bray. Went to a show at 9:30 P.M. &

with John then to Mrs Waugh's place where

we slept the night. I missed Huck after

the show & he had a rotten night because

of that & went back to camp at about

6 AM. the following morning.

[*15th August.*]

After breakfast went off swimming with

John & a Greek girl & there was a 

good surf running. After visiting the Jewish

Club we returned to Stanley Bay but did

not swim. Went to a bit of a dance

at the Royal Arms Club during the evening

— it was a very poor show. Returned 

to the Rest Camp with the truck & [[Baley?]]

at about 11 P.M. and was very glad to

pop into bed.

[*16th August*]

Rose early & had a good swim. We

enjoyed our meals very much this day.

I recieved a letter from Helen Barett

in the U.S.A. & it had taken 9 mths to 

come along. Also cashed in on

Some grand photographs & parcel from

Joy. The photographs are excellent & they

gave me a great kick to recieve

them.

[*17th August.*]

Came back to the Squadron at about 3 P.M.

after having spent the morning in a really

good surf. Last night Huck & I had

gone to town & thoroughly enjoyed

ourselves at the Jewish Club. I picked the

bus back to camp & came along by

car this morning. There was a little

practice flying during the afternoon

& unfortunately a fine new fellow

to the Sq. named Mactagget, was killed.

Something went wrong during the dive-

bombing & he tried to get out but 

was too late & hit the deck with

his chute unblossomed.

[*18th Aug.*]

News out today that Churchill has been

in the M.E. We knew he was here

about 14 days ago. Went for a

practice fly led by the C.O. Jones'

kite caught fire in the air &

he successfully belly landed without

getting burnt. A flap has started

today & we are to start opps on the

morrow. I believe that Jerry has

started a major attack. He has about

140 Maccchi's & 120 M.E.109's on his 

dromes but we should be able to

handle those providing we can 

maintain servicability, which is at

present not good.

Heard from Alice Broughton this day.

She writes a wonderful letter & I have

not stopped laughing over her account

of ginger beer making. She also mentioned

the exaggerated reports of our doings

in the Sydney papers. Alice is one

of the best letter writers I know &

for here sincerity. I am truly grateful.

[*19th Aug 1942*]

We started opps again on the 

20th. I have forgotten what

happened on the 19th. but it 

could have been of little 

consequence.

[*20th Aug.*]

The squadron did one bombing

job in the Southern area. They saw 10

109F's but only 250 sq was attacked

There were no casualities.

[*21st. Aug.*]

Danny took out the first job &

there was little to report expect that

the ACK/ACK seems to have weakened

a little in the Southern section. Boys

coming back from town saw 60 Grant

tanks making for the front which was

very heartning news. 

I went into town with the C.O. &

John Bray & we had a little fun. I

had a few drinks & finish up

intercepting Rose the de Botterer at

a French Cafe & took her home.

John & I had to sleep the night in

a double bed at the Bonnard &

we were both out of cash. Danny's

[*2*] interception job in the evening failed

to find the Stukas.

[*22st. Aug*]

Came back to camp at about 10 A.M.

& found the boys had done an

early morning job & had met

a few E.A. bit had not had

any trouble. There are more about

these days. I wrote letters to mother

& Helen during the afternoon &

generally mucked about taffing A/C

& shooting with the C.O.'s bow & arrows.

Jerry came over during the evening &

took some photographs by flash light.

We had a good picture show in 

the open air three nights ago &

it was a great success. 

[*23rd Aug.*]

Was on the first show this morning

& had to return after about 20 mins

flying for my A/C was very tired

& we had gotten mixed up with

the wrong formation. Our show did

their bombing & were then attacked

by 3 109's & one 202. John Bray

claimed one damaged & the C.O. got 

a good burst into another. Stephens

was shot down but belly landed

in our lines & may be O.K. The

E/A followed us right back to 

the drome & one attacked Rex

Bailley right over the drome at 

about 5000'. We are to have some

N.A.F.F.I. ladies to lunch this day

& everyone is very clean &

dolled up. This is the first time